Syria: Hague seeks to stop EU split

Mar 22 2013

Foreign Secretary William Hague has said he is focused on avoiding a split across Europe over whether an arms embargo on Syrian rebels should be lifted.

As EU foreign ministers met in Dublin, Mr Hague said discussions will centre on making sure there is agreement across the bloc on the contentious issue.

"This is not a decision-making meeting on Syrian sanctions. There will be further meetings over the coming weeks," Mr Hague said.

"As it stands with Syria, there is a very strong case for lifting the arms embargo. My French colleague has just been speaking about this. He is of a similar mind."

A European Union embargo remains in place preventing the arming of the opposition to President Bashar Assad's regime. However, pressure has heightened this week in the wake of the reported use of chemical weapons.

Mr Hague said it was still an option for Britain to break from wider European thinking and arm rebel forces with the support of France.

"That's an option for the UK and France - both countries have said that - but our emphasis is on making sure we keep agreement in the EU. That's what we have been focusing on so far and we'll have discussions on that," he said.

Mr Hague is holding talks with his European counterparts at Dublin Castle as part of Ireland's presidency of the EU. The threat that UK-supplied weapons could fall into the hands of jihadists in Syria is one of the primary concerns against arming rebels.

The European arms embargo was relaxed last month to allow the supply of non-lethal military equipment. The UK is sending body armour and armoured cars among other equipment.

Any prospect of a pan-European agreement on arming rebels remains distant