Efforts to negotiate a new, scaled-down version of the arms embargo against Syria have failed today, according to European Union officials, meaning that the whole of the embargo will expire as scheduled on Saturday.
The question centered around efforts, spearheaded by British and French officials, to change the embargo to only apply to government forces, allowing EU member nations to arm the rebels with impunity. Austria had spearheaded the opposition to the change, fearing it would endanger their troops currently deployed in southern Syria as part of the UN ceasefire monitors mission. Others had sought a middle-ground that would satisfy both.
British officials touted the lack of a deal as a victory, saying it was “the outcome we wanted,” while Austria complained that France and Britain had been too unwilling to compromise and forced the existing pact to simply expire.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton insisted the expiration of the deal didn’t mean there would be immediate arms shipments to Syria’s rebels. British Foreign Secretary William Hague also insisted there were no specific plans to start arming the rebels right away, but added that “all options remain on the table.”
WHAT HYPOCRISY!!!
Its perfectly OK to supply arms to "cannibal" terrorist fighters BUT ARMS ARE BANNED FROM THE LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA.
This is the most disgusting "double-speak " "forked-tongue" policy of the EU and America that I have ever witnessed..
England and French government are two of a different kind (ideologically) that is to say if such thing exist when it comes to vulture capitalism ideology in interest.., but when it comes to Syria both of these regimes are interested to do the same as the American government dose.., aiding the tyrants of Arabia by aiding Al-Queada and other barbarians.., they do that for two reasons.., one.., they think that one day these barbarians will come to there senses and start building a democratic political system.., the other.. Is for this war in infinity.., they are not interested in peace.., the same regimes that arms the enemies of enemies who are their friends…, same thing as Bush with different kind of approach yet the very same interests.
Arms embargo ??????? Which arms embargo? Is also antiwar a location of fairy tales?
They have masses of highly advanced anti-tank weapons, chemical weapons and even anti-aircraft weapons since the beginning ! Not to mention sniper weapons. Lebanon and Syria had confiscated tons of them.
Here is what these unarmed freedom fighters fight for (before they come to USA):
http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=423524
Armed Rebels Massacre Entire Population of Christian Village in Syria
Armed rebels attacked a village in Syria's Western province of Homs and slaughtered all its Christian residents on Monday.
Armed Rebels Massacre Entire Population of Christian Village in Syria
(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The armed rebels affiliated to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) raided the Christian-populated al-Duvair village in Reef (outskirts of) Homs near the border with Lebanon today and massacred all its civilian residents, including women and children.
The Syrian army, however, intervened and killed tens of terrorists during heavy clashes which are still going on in al-Duvair village.
The armed rebels' attack and crimes in al-Duvair village came after they sustained heavy defeats in al-Qusseir city which has almost been set free by the Syrian army except for a few districts.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.
Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.
The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.
In October 2011, calm was almost restored in the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies sought hard to bring the country into chaos through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots to topple President Bashar al-Assad, who is well known in the world for his anti-Israeli stances.
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The EU sucks…..BIGTIME.
Say what you will about Russia…at least they have their own independent foreign policy – something EU members apparently no longer have. French foreign policy has become a Bizarro version of what it was under Chirac's. Why is France all of a sudden so damn bloodthirsty while its economy crumbles?
You are right.
And "Why is France all of a sudden so damn bloodthirsty while its economy crumbles? "
why not just because of that to distract people from domestic problems.
If I would have a saying in German politics, I would have better relations to Russia
and get out of NATO fast! But, I'm sorry I don't have that.
War criminals that love the taste of someone else blood and not their own.
It is little known that Germany, the second-largest arms dealer of the world after our USA, stands to profit greatly from this insane action.