UK: Syria successes impact Geneva conference chances
Iran Press TV
Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:8AM GMT
British Foreign Secretary William Hague claims the recent battlefield accomplishments by Syrian army forces against foreign-backed militants undermines chances of a planned conference on Syria in Geneva.
Hague also claimed that London is “very reluctant” to directly arm the militants after the EU failed to renew its arms embargo on the terrorists last month.
Hague pledged the government will put a decision to arm the militants to a parliamentary vote if London ever decides to go ahead with the plan.
"There would be a vote one way or the other. People have understandable concerns about the idea of sending arms to anybody in Syria and we'd all be very reluctant to do that,” he told the BBC TV.
Hague’s remarks come as the militants have threatened to boycott the planned Geneva 2 conference if they get no direct arms deliveries from western countries, including Britain.
The Syrian army has recently clinched victories against the militants, liberating the strategic towns of Qusayr, Qunaytirah and Daba’a in the west.
Qusayr was an important center and supply route for the armed groups while it is believed its liberation gives the Syrian government the upper hand against militants and their western backers in any future talks on the country.
“The [Syrian government] has gained ground. That makes the Geneva conference harder to bring about and to make a success. It makes it less likely that the [Syrian government] will make enough concessions in such negotiations, and it makes it harder to get the opposition to come to the negotiation,” Hague added.
The recent victories by the Syrian government forces followed their retaking control of several villages near Qusayr on June 7 and their expulsion of militants from the central villages of Salhiyeh and Masoudiyeh.
AMR/HE
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