Czech FM discusses situation in Syria with national coordination committee

Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg met with a delegation from the national coordination committee of the democratic change forces in Syria, discussing with them the situation in Syria and means to support efforts for reaching a peaceful solution for the crisis in it. The Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the two sides stressed the importance of the upcoming meeting on Syria to be held in Geneva, and that discussions focused on supporting a political and peaceful solution for the crisis in Syria. The Ministry said that Schwarzenberg voiced his country's support for the conference granted that the representatives of the Syrian opposition inside Syria are accepted as a legitimate part of the Syrian opposition, instead of limiting the opposition's representation to the ones from abroad. The delegation also met First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ji?i Schneider and discussed with him the situation in Syria. The Czech Republic and Austria opposed the steps taken by some EU countries – particularly France and Britain – in their blind attempts to arm terrorist groups in Syria.