EU foreign ministers divided on easing Syria arms embargo
Iran Press TV
Mon May 27, 2013 5:22PM GMT
The European Union has remained divided on whether to ease an embargo against Syria to arm militants fighting against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
The EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday to decide whether to supply weaponry to foreign-backed militants in Syria.
Britain and France want the sanctions maintained against the Syrian government, but eased for militants. However many EU nations are against sending more weapons into a conflict that began more than two years ago.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said it was not clear if the ministers could reach a deal Monday as the “positions are far apart.”
The current arms embargo against Syria would end on Friday, and if the EU nations fail to reach a deal, each country can independently decide about arming militants in the Arab country.
Austria is among the nations against proving Syria militants with arms, saying the move would worsen the situation in the crisis-hit country.
Austria Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said the EU “just received the Nobel Peace Prize and to now go in the direction of intentionally getting involved in a conflict with weapon deliveries, I think that is wrong."
Syria has been gripped by unrest for over two years, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the foreign-sponsored militancy.
President Assad said on May 18 that militants from 29 countries were fighting against the government in different parts of Syria.
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