| Information |  | |
Derechos | Equipo Nizkor
| ||
| Information | | |
Derechos | Equipo Nizkor
| ||
21Apr13
US doubles aid for Syrian opposition to 250 mln USD
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced here Saturday that his country would provide another 123 million U.S. dollars in non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition.
Kerry made the pledge, which would bring Washington's total amount to 250 million dollars, at a press conference shortly after the meeting in Istanbul of 11 foreign ministers from Western and Arab countries.
The U.S. aid would focus on providing food and medical services and supporting local Syrian leaders to do groundwork for Syria's democratic future, said the U.S. top diplomat.
The package is also expected to include for the first time armored vehicles, body armor, night vision goggles and other defensive military supplies.
Foreign supporters, he added, have all agreed to let the rebel Supreme Military Command (SMC) handle their aid and assistance.
The SMC is an opposition military force operating under the umbrella group of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC). With an established command-control structure, it conducts organized military operations against government forces.
Kerry emphasized that the "Friends of Syria" and the Syrian National Coalition share the same view that there should be a peaceful transition.
"We agreed on a transitional government for the new leadership of Syria. That is the path to the peace. Our hope is that we can somehow get to the peaceful negotiation under the framework of Geneva Communique," he said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the "Friends of Syria" group has reached a common decision and all these countries agree that stability and peace should prevail inside Syria.
SNC President Moaz al-Khatib said at the press conference that the Syrian people are experiencing a tragedy they have never seen before and the opposition expects more support from the international community.
He also called on Russia to adopt what he called a much more positive method, asked Iran to be no longer involved in the Syrian issue, and called for Lebanese group Hezbollah's withdrawal from Syria.
The one-day meeting was attended by foreign ministers from Turkey, the United States, Britain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Germany and France -- the so-called "core group" of the "Friends of Syria."
A joint statement was issued following the meeting, which reiterated their firm support for a political solution to the conflict in Syria within the framework of the Geneva communique.
They also restated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his close associates have no place in the future of Syria and that they must cede power to a transitional executive body.
The statement also said that the "Friends of Syria" group recognizes the SNC as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people and welcomes the decision of the Arab League to transfer the seat of Syria to the SNC.
The SNC accused the Syrian government of using ballistic missiles and chemical weapons against Syrian civilians, and demanded the "Friends of Syria" disable the government's use of such weapons.
The SNC also requested the "Friends of Syria" to enforce a non-fly zone with a protected air space along the northern and southern borders, as well as to establish an international fund to support the SNC and its interim government.
More than 70,000 people have been killed and over 1.3 million Syrians have become refugees and fled to the neighboring countries since the Syrian crisis started two years ago. Turkey hosts more than 300,000 Syrian refugees at the moment.
[Source: Xinhua, Istanbul, 21Apr13]
 | This document has been published on 22Apr13 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. |