Syrian government condemns EU decision to lift arms embargo
Iran Press TV
Wed May 29, 2013 10:5AM GMT
The Syrian government has slammed the EU decision to lift the arms embargo on foreign-backed militants in Syria.
On Wednesday, Syria's state television reported that the Syrian government has censured the EU decision and said the move will harm peace efforts.
"The recent EU decision proves they are hindering the international efforts aimed at achieving a political settlement to the crisis in Syria based on national dialogue among Syrians," an unnamed foreign ministry official said.
On Monday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said that European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels have reached an agreement to lift the arms embargo on militants in Syria, while maintaining other sanctions on the country.
However, Hague stressed that Britain had "no immediate" plans to provide weapons to the militants.
Britain and France had backed the proposal to send weapons to the militants, while other countries, such as Austria, Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic, had opposed the move.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said, "Member states will not proceed at this stage with the delivery" of equipment that has until now been subject to the ban.
The Syria crisis began in mid-March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed in the violence, and several international human rights organizations say the foreign-sponsored militants have committed war crimes.
The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.
IA/PR
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