Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Syria conflict: UK recognises opposition, says William Hague

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20406562
 
 
Syria conflict: UK recognises opposition, says William Hague
 
Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the UK has decided to recognise 
the Syrian opposition coalition.
 
He told MPs the National Coalition of the Syrian Revolutionary and 
Opposition Forces was the "sole legitimate representative" of the Syrian 
people.
 
He said they were now a "credible" alternative to the Assad government.
 
In the absence of a diplomatic solution, he told MPs the UK would not 
rule out any action - subject to international law - to save lives.
 
Up to 30,000 people have been killed in the 18-month conflict, the UK 
believes.
 
Those trying to bring down President Bashar al-Assad's government moved 
closer to a united front when the rival leaders of Syria's rebels formed 
the coalition after months of bitter division.
 
At a meeting last week, Britain urged the newly formed coalition of 
opposition groups to put forward a clear plan for political transition 
in Syria.
 
'Growing support'
 
In a statement to Parliament, Mr Hague said the Syrian opposition would 
be invited to appoint a political representative to the UK and would be 
given £1.6m to help with communications equipment.
 
The UK will also offer assistance to help the coalition set up political 
and humanitarian structures and deploy a "stabilisation response" team 
in Syria to help provide basic services to people in 
opposition-controlled areas.
 
Mr Hague said the decision to recognise the opposition was taken after 
consultation with European partners and after its leaders offered 
"assurances" about their commitment to uphold human rights and work for 
a democratic future at Friday's meeting.
 
"It is strongly in the interests of Syria, of the wider region and of 
the United Kingdom that we support them and deny space to extremist 
groups," he added.
 
"A credible alternative to the Assad regime is emerging that has the 
growing support of the Arab League, the European Union, the United 
States and an increasing number of other countries."
 
A spokesman for the coalition, Walid al-Bunni, told Reuters the UK's 
move was "very important" and would "encourage more Syrians to join the 
coalition and trust it and it will also encourage other European states 
to recognise it".
 
'Sustainable peace'
 
France, Turkey and six Gulf states have already recognised the 
opposition although the US has stopped short of doing so.
 
President Barack Obama has described the coalition as "a legitimate 
representation of the aspirations of the Syrian people" but said he was 
not yet prepared to regard it as a "government-in-exile" and was seeking 
assurances that elements within the opposition were not hostile to US 
interests in the region.
 
The European Union has recognised the coalition as "legitimate 
representatives" of the Syrian people, but not the sole one.
 
For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander welcomed the UK's 
decision, saying it was an appropriate response to the "new found unity" 
within the opposition movement.
 
"Recognition is a vital step forward," he said. "Only a credible and 
inclusive transition plan and a united opposition holds the prospect of 
being a bridge between conflict and a sustainable peace in Syria."
 
But he sought guarantees that the move was not a "precursor" to the UK 
arming the Syrian opposition, which he said would be against the EU arms 
embargo and detract from diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.
 
In response to a question from Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind - who 
has consistently called for the international community to arm Syrian 
opposition groups - Mr Hague said the government's position on military 
support had not changed.
 
"The arms embargo is due to be continued from 1 December as part of the 
entire package of Syria sanctions," he added. "We will keep all these 
options under review but we have made no decision to change our policy 
on arms supplies as things stand."
-- 
Namib
--
I have examined maps of the city with the greatest care, yet have never 
again found the Rue d'Auseil (HPL)

 interests in the region.
 
come si evice esistono delle resistenze da parte americana sulla Siria, 
evidenti nella posizione obamiana di diffidenza nei confronti di una rivolta 
che trova quali sostenitori primi elementi non americani. D'altra parte la 
posizione americana di riluttanza nell'intervento si mostra anche nel caso 
israelo-palestinese nel quale Obama voleva demandare all'Egitto tutta la 
trattativa sgravando gli Usa da una "incombenza" che al contrario li ha 
sempre visti protagonisti. Anche in questo caso la posizione obamiana è 
stata surclassata da una posizione tesa a non far perdere troppi punti alla 
presenza americana in medioriente con l'invio della Clinton...una politica 
estera che sia sulla Siria che sulla Palestina conosce evidenti paralleli 
come su altri scenari...