LOC16:04
13:04 GMT
PARIS, Aug 28 (KUNA) -- While France is promising to increase weapons
deliveries to selective Syrian opposition groups, this is unlikely to mean a
qualitative change in weaponry going to rebels fighting the regime but will
probably mean a quantitative change in arms supplies, according to official
statements Wednesday.
President Francois Hollande, in a speech to French ambassadors on Tuesday,
said he had decided to increase weapons deliveries but "respecting our
European commitments." This position was reiterated by the French Foreign
Ministry on Wednesday.
The European Union lifted its embargo on arms deliveries to Syrian
opposition groups last May, and in August decided on what types of weapons
would be supplied by major countries like Britain and France.
The core group of "Friends of Syria" nations, which include EU and non-EU
countries, have divided up a list of requests from the Free Syrian Army and
its sponsor organisation the Syrian National Coalition.
More sophisticated weapons are being supplied by non-EU nations but several
European countries continue to express concerns about the final destination of
weapons and also worry that some arms might end up in the hands of Islamist
extremist groups that are also seeking to oust Al-Assad.
The weapons that would cause most problems for the EU countries are
anti-tank and anti-aircraft capability, but these are precisely the weapons
the Syrian opposition says it needs to fight the superior armoured and air
forces of the regime.
"We have committed with other (EU) member states to only make deliveries to
the Syrian National Coalition with the aim to protect the civilian population
and to demand guarantees on the end users and destination of equipment in
order to assure an attentive follow-up," Foreign Ministry spokesman Philippe
Lalliot said Wednesday when questioned about more weapons for the SNC.
The leader of the SNC, Ahmad Al-Jarba, is currently in Paris and is meeting
senior officials to discuss the situation.
He is scheduled to hold talks with President Francois Hollande on Thursday
at the Elysee Palace. (end)
jk.rk
KUNA 281604 Aug 13NNNN