Syria opposition: EU arms embargo lifting ‘too little, too late’

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Louay Safi syrian opposition spokesmanSyria’s opposition on Tuesday described as “too little, too late” an EU decision to lift an arms embargo on rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

“Definitely it is a positive step, but we are afraid it could be too little, too late,” Louay Safi (pictured) , spokesman for Syria’s main opposition National Coalition, told AFP.

The European Union agreed Monday to lift its embargo against arming Syria’s rebels, but no member state intends to send any arms in the coming months for fear of endangering a US-Russian peace initiative dubbed Geneva 2.

A French official in Paris stressed that “this is a theoretical lifting of the embargo. In concrete terms, there will be no decision on any deliveries before August 1”.

“The Syrian people are disappointed. They thought that democracies care about those who seek democracy,” Safi told AFP on the sidelines of an opposition meeting in Istanbul that has been stalled by divisions.

“We need to provide protection for civilians, for the Syrian people. Weapons would be one element but also we would like to have a more serious position taken, a firm decision taken by the European Union,” he added.

A rebel spokesman inside Syria also lashed out against the EU decision.

“Why wait until August? Why wait another two months? So that the Syrian people continue to be subjected to genocide?” Qassem Saadeddine told AFP by telephone.

“We need anti-aircraft rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles,” he added.

Meanwhile Russia, which has supported Assad, said the EU’s decision to lift the arms embargo on the rebels “directly harms” the prospects of convening a conference on the Syrian crisis.

The proposed “Geneva 2” meeting is expected to happen some time next month after US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed in May to try and bring the warring sides together at conference.

Now/AFP

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22 responses to “Syria opposition: EU arms embargo lifting ‘too little, too late’”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    They are not ‘lifting’ it … the time period for it ran out. They would need to vote again to re-install it.
    The gun-trade field is ‘open for business’.
    But yes, probably too little too late … the fight for democracy has turned into a fight for survival.
    The country is not likely to. Will it drag Lebanon more backward to 1975 with it?

    1. dateam Avatar

      No it wont and il tell you why….Now it is hitting our army…the same army that has been neglected for years….ive had enough of the sectarian crap that floats around….i tell you what I think…NOW i have no remorse…..the syrian opposition have only themselves to blame….if you want to talk sectarian lets talk sectarian…there are least 1.3 billion sunnis in the world….get your shit together…what have you achieved in 500 years…..all the wealth in the middle east is not held by the christians or the shia its held by the sunnis and what have they done witrh it? NOTHING except impoverish their people and watch their own in palestine for 70 years achieve nothing….all they have done is sell each other out….saddam hussein,mubarak, qadaffi bin ali, all sunni countries and your own had enough of you not to mention the west realised their time was up…..regarding the OUR army lets not kid ourselves it has been neglected….since 2006 we are still waiting for a defense strategy…whats the first thing the government at the time did? They cancelled conscription….Now if we had conscription all these twits running around would not be able to because they would be in the army…hzb would not be able to recruit as much because they would be in the army….army build character,patrionism and respect….we as a country have taken that away and allowed the clerics to control our youths….regarding the syrian opposition to me they have been overun by opportunists and islamists….to the extent now that the americans want to increase the number in the opposition to a point where they can outnumber the islamists…..they have no structure, no central command, no vision for what they want after assad…and it can be seen in their actions….fsa first claimed responsibility for the rocket attack (wiwa) then another part of the opposition came out and said no it wasnt us wiwa should shut up…come on give us a break…..sorry but if your shia or a christian you should be worried….I know people are going to start with hzb got involved and all that crap but this is the second time OUR officers get killed in arsal…the first time was long before the hzb got involved and what happened? Nothing…why? because they are being given political coverage…rifi is up to his neck in it…..at least the hzb backs the army and respects the army…its out of frustration at watching the army being taken for granted i think that they have said enough is enough…lets be honest those shiite villages on the border are we going to kid ourselves to think that the rebels were not going to wipe them out? If they dug up a grave belonging to the shiites then what are they going to do to them? If theyve bombed churches and stolen artifacts and driven christians out of their towns then what are they going to do to the people in these villages? Hzb told them use want to fight leave lebanon out of it and lets play it out in syria……in regards to the civil war 5th thats where they want to take it it by attacking our army….thats what they did back then isnt it? people like merheb attack the army for doing its job then run to them when they are under attack? Are we kidding ourselves here…the north has been used to funnel weapons and fighters from the start of this conflict…people seem to forget when hariri said he would stop their funding if the 11 shiites were not returned…and oaqb saqr is in turkey distributing brad and water is he? Wake up people this is not sectarian its politics and the price of politicians is whoever pays more…look at the elections….christians agreed in front of rai on orthodox law then on the 11th hour gagea does a deal with hariri…in effect nulifying any bargaining chips phalange party has…aoun has now roper doped gagea by agreeing to 1960’s law which looks like majority of parliament has agreed to and now gagea is upset…guesss hwat gagea you only have yourself to blame because mustaqbal got what it wants and you and gmayell got nothing……this is a CIRCUS

      1. Reasonableman Avatar
        Reasonableman

        Although joining the army i agree with you but i think jumping to conclusions about the attack in arsel first and foremost just one question. Who attacked who? Where is the version of events? Paper trails? Conclusion? Witnessess? Yadda yadda.. if you think you can do a better job then sheez dateam i dont know maybe run for the upcoming elections?

        1. dateam Avatar

          Look put everything aside about the hzb…one thing they would never do is attack the army…they are frustrated that our army has never been equiped properly…they feel they have been left no choice but to do what they are doing….go through history at all the speeches made since 2000 and it they have always spoken honuorably regarding the army…..now look what happened earlier in the year in arsal when 2 soldiers were killed…who were they killed by? FSA have been making threats lately>>>just now a few hours ago threats were made again….we always knew that elements within the opposition were and are extremists and if they were driven out of syria would come into lebanon…from the start the north of lebanon has been used to funnel fighters and weapons….That area is controlled by the rebels….at the moment with the battle of qusar its their only outlet…..Further I hate to point this out but when rifi was in charge of isf arms,fighters were flowing freely…notice since his departure the army has been able to clamp down more in those areas? As far as elections im just a poor man…you have to be rich to run for elections…and im too outspoken….i look at things based on fact…i dont take things at face value because these days everything is manipulated…..i like to think for myself.

          1. AntiFSA Avatar
            AntiFSA

            Dateam, very well put, I have said the same thing on numours occasion with most on this blog thinking I’m crazy. however facts are facts. And you my friend have hit the nail on the head once again. well done.

          2. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You don’t need to be rich to run for office in a democracy … look at Abe Lincoln. But you do need some backing.
            The main problem with getting backing – especially these days – is that when people give you money, they begin to believe you should think like them, instead of leading them properly. It takes a lot of principles to not be changed by money.
            Which is probably why the world is where it is today. Hmmmm …..

          3. Reasonableman Avatar
            Reasonableman

            I never heard nasrallah say he was frustrated for the army. If i recall a proposal a wise man once said after numerous attempts to ask hezballah to hand over its weapons if it wants to help the army? That didnt happen so they said fine to help lebanon keep your weapons but fight when we ask you to fight and again that didnt happen. Hezballah fights for itself it fights only for shia. Just like baalbak syria has been proven openley that there has been arms and people smuggling it has yet to be proven in arsal, any human against the uprising may assume so but prove it. You pre cum when you “if” they come to lebanon, have you seen how extreme hezballah is? How they reject and disrespect all our political figures i think youve chosen not see it in this light to find justification for there actions. The method is simple leave syria alone close off ALL border towns. Just because your shia or druze or christian i dont give a $#!+ i still get cut when a lebanese dies in another country over something he has no business in. All our $#!+ smells alike.

      2. Reasonableman Avatar
        Reasonableman

        “and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant” (5:82).

      3. Hannibal Avatar
        Hannibal

        Well said man… Time to build a nation secular with the ONE THING that brings us together: LEBANON…

      4. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        Like your attitude. 🙂

    2. dateam Avatar

      Another reason why lebanon wont be dragged into war is for example on Sunday when those rockets were fired into beirut I dont know if anyone noticed but the womens marathon was on in beirut…and if you saw the people participating that were from all of lebanon…young, old,fat,skinny,christian,muslim,catholic,orthodox,shiite,sunni,druze,….they all made the finish line.

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    They are not ‘lifting’ it … the time period for it ran out. They would need to vote again to re-install it.
    The gun-trade field is ‘open for business’.
    But yes, probably too little too late … the fight for democracy has turned into a fight for survival.
    The country is not likely to. Will it drag Lebanon more backward to 1975 with it?

    1. dateam Avatar

      No it wont and il tell you why….Now it is hitting our army…the same army that has been neglected for years….ive had enough of the sectarian crap that floats around….i tell you what I think…NOW i have no remorse…..the syrian opposition have only themselves to blame….if you want to talk sectarian lets talk sectarian…there are least 1.3 billion sunnis in the world….get your shit together…what have you achieved in 500 years…..all the wealth in the middle east is not held by the christians or the shia its held by the sunnis and what have they done witrh it? NOTHING except impoverish their people and watch their own in palestine for 70 years achieve nothing….all they have done is sell each other out….saddam hussein,mubarak, qadaffi bin ali, all sunni countries and your own had enough of you not to mention the west realised their time was up…..regarding the OUR army lets not kid ourselves it has been neglected….since 2006 we are still waiting for a defense strategy…whats the first thing the government at the time did? They cancelled conscription….Now if we had conscription all these twits running around would not be able to because they would be in the army…hzb would not be able to recruit as much because they would be in the army….army build character,patrionism and respect….we as a country have taken that away and allowed the clerics to control our youths….regarding the syrian opposition to me they have been overun by opportunists and islamists….to the extent now that the americans want to increase the number in the opposition to a point where they can outnumber the islamists…..they have no structure, no central command, no vision for what they want after assad…and it can be seen in their actions….fsa first claimed responsibility for the rocket attack (wiwa) then another part of the opposition came out and said no it wasnt us wiwa should shut up…come on give us a break…..sorry but if your shia or a christian you should be worried….I know people are going to start with hzb got involved and all that crap but this is the second time OUR officers get killed in arsal…the first time was long before the hzb got involved and what happened? Nothing…why? because they are being given political coverage…rifi is up to his neck in it…..at least the hzb backs the army and respects the army…its out of frustration at watching the army being taken for granted i think that they have said enough is enough…lets be honest those shiite villages on the border are we going to kid ourselves to think that the rebels were not going to wipe them out? If they dug up a grave belonging to the shiites then what are they going to do to them? If theyve bombed churches and stolen artifacts and driven christians out of their towns then what are they going to do to the people in these villages? Hzb told them use want to fight leave lebanon out of it and lets play it out in syria……in regards to the civil war 5th thats where they want to take it it by attacking our army….thats what they did back then isnt it? people like merheb attack the army for doing its job then run to them when they are under attack? Are we kidding ourselves here…the north has been used to funnel weapons and fighters from the start of this conflict…people seem to forget when hariri said he would stop their funding if the 11 shiites were not returned…and oaqb saqr is in turkey distributing brad and water is he? Wake up people this is not sectarian its politics and the price of politicians is whoever pays more…look at the elections….christians agreed in front of rai on orthodox law then on the 11th hour gagea does a deal with hariri…in effect nulifying any bargaining chips phalange party has…aoun has now roper doped gagea by agreeing to 1960’s law which looks like majority of parliament has agreed to and now gagea is upset…guesss hwat gagea you only have yourself to blame because mustaqbal got what it wants and you and gmayell got nothing……this is a CIRCUS

      1. Reasonableman Avatar
        Reasonableman

        Although joining the army i agree with you but i think jumping to conclusions about the attack in arsel first and foremost just one question. Who attacked who? Where is the version of events? Paper trails? Conclusion? Witnessess? Yadda yadda..

        1. dateam Avatar

          Look put everything aside about the hzb…one thing they would never do is attack the army…they are frustrated that our army has never been equiped properly…they feel they have been left no choice but to do what they are doing….go through history at all the speeches made since 2000 and it they have always spoken honuorably regarding the army…..now look what happened earlier in the year in arsal when 2 soldiers were killed…who were they killed by? FSA have been making threats lately>>>just now a few hours ago threats were made again….we always knew that elements within the opposition were and are extremists and if they were driven out of syria would come into lebanon…from the start the north of lebanon has been used to funnel fighters and weapons….That area is controlled by the rebels….at the moment with the battle of qusar its their only outlet…..Further I hate to point this out but when rifi was in charge of isf arms,fighters were flowing freely…notice since his departure the army has been able to clamp down more in those areas? As far as elections im just a poor man…you have to be rich to run for elections…and im too outspoken….i look at things based on fact…i dont take things at face value because these days everything is manipulated…..i like to think for myself.

          1. AntiFSA Avatar
            AntiFSA

            Dateam, very well put, I have said the same thing on numours occasion with most on this blog thinking I’m crazy. however facts are facts. And you my friend have hit the nail on the head once again. well done.

          2. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            You don’t need to be rich to run for office in a democracy … look at Abe Lincoln. But you do need some backing.
            The main problem with getting backing – especially these days – is that when people give you money, they begin to believe you should think like them, instead of leading them properly. It takes a lot of principles to not be changed by money.
            Which is probably why the world is where it is today. Hmmmm …..

          3. Reasonableman Avatar
            Reasonableman

            I never heard nasrallah say he was frustrated for the army. If i recall a proposal a wise man once said after numerous attempts to ask hezballah to hand over its weapons if it wants to help the army? That didnt happen so they said fine to help lebanon keep your weapons but fight when we ask you to fight and again that didnt happen. Hezballah fights for itself it fights only for shia. Just like baalbak syria has been proven openley that there has been arms and people smuggling it has yet to be proven in arsal, any human against the uprising may assume so but prove it.

      2. Reasonableman Avatar
        Reasonableman

        “and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant” (5:82).

      3. Hannibal Avatar
        Hannibal

        Well said man… Time to build a nation secular with the ONE THING that brings us together: LEBANON…

      4. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        Like your attitude. 🙂

    2. dateam Avatar

      Another reason why lebanon wont be dragged into war is for example on Sunday when those rockets were fired into beirut I dont know if anyone noticed but the womens marathon was on in beirut…and if you saw the people participating that were from all of lebanon…young, old,fat,skinny,christian,muslim,catholic,orthodox,shiite,sunni,druze,….they all made the finish line.

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