EU stalls on arming Syrian opposition amid UN warnings

EU states will discuss arming Syrian rebels in a meeting next week European member states have stalled on decisions to arm Syrian opposition groups. France and Britain are now pushing to supply arms to rebels in attempts to end a conflict now entering its third year, while Germany has resisted the move, warning of escalations in violence that has already claimed over 70,000 lives.
"France and Britain got little support for their proposal to ease the ban [on supplying weapons] during a European Union summit in Brussels,” EU diplomats said.
Foreign ministers will consider the issue next week, they added.
European Council chief Herman Van Rompuy revealed ministers would discuss arms supplies as “a matter of priority” during a summit in Dublin between March 22-23.
“The European Union will try next week to reach a common position on the issue of supplying weapons to the Syrian opposition,” he said.
French President Francois Hollande meanwhile expressed his hope that the ban would be lifted in coming weeks.
"The greatest danger is not to make a move," Hollande told reporters.
The French leader claimed German Chancellor Angela Merkel was not against the ban “in principle,” but was keen to evaluate the consequences of such a move.
Hollande admitted that before weapons could be supplied to the Syrian opposition fighting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the EU would need to have “all necessary guarantees” that weapons would not fall into the hands of Islamist militant groups, such as Jabhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda.
"It's because we have been given those [guarantees] that we can envisage the lifting of the embargo,” he said.
The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) has meanwhile announced it will hold a twice postponed meeting to select a prime minister and provisional government ministers in an Istanbul summit early next week.
SNC member Samir Nashar revealed that “consultations are continuing.”
A list of favourites for the opposition top-spot have begun to emerge, including economic expert Osama Qazi, former SNC leader Burhan Ghalioun and dissident Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hegab.
The United States government has meanwhile announced it will allow American citizens, companies and banks to fund Syrian opposition forces struggling to topple President Assad.
The US Treasury decision will exempt Syrian rebels from wide-ranging sanctions against aid entering the country.
"The United States is committed to supporting the Syrian people's aspirations for a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, inclusive, and peaceful Syria," a Treasury statement said.
"The Syrian government has sacrificed all legitimacy in its violent attempts to cling to power."
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres has also reiterated his call for governments to create special funds to support Syrian refugees and the countries hosting them.
Speaking to journalists in Beirut on the second anniversary of the start of the Syrian conflict, Guterres warned the growing refugee crisis could lead to regional instability if fresh funds were not made available soon.
“The international community must intensify its efforts to help resolve the conflict, and to provide assistance to those affected by it,” he said. “It is a threat to international peace and security.”
Guterres warned of an “explosion in the Middle East,” weeks after the UN registered the one millionth refugee to have fled Syria.
That number is expected to exceed three million by the end of the year.