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25-06-2013

“SYRIA FRIENDS” READY TO ENGAGE?

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Eleven countries seem ready to increase their engagement in helping rebels group fighting Assad’s regime. That is what emerged from the latest “Syria Friends Group” summit hosted in Doha (Qatar, 21-22 June). Far from the 144 participants of the first Group meeting in Marrakech (12 December 2012), there were only eleven countries in Doha; and yet United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates declared themselves ready and inclined to support the anti-regime guerrilla with weapons and equipment supplies. In Al-Thani, Qatar Emir, «force is necessary to achieve justice, and the provision of weapons is the only way to achieve peace in Syria's case». British Foreign Secretary William Hague declarations followed the same line, although he reiterated that London had yet to take a formal decision: «we won't get a political solution if Assad and his regime think they can eliminate all legitimate opposition by force, and so we do have to give assistance to that opposition», he said.

At present, France and United State are engaged in training operation within rebel groups in Turkey and Jordan but, as emerged from the Doha summit, the eleven “friend” are ready to take further steps in terms of commitment. Apparently, Saudi Arabia has already accelerated and increased delivery operations. Moreover, as Salim Idris stated (ex-Assad’s general, now chief of the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army) his men are still lacking in effective air defence and «that's why we are asking for shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles, [and] modern ones with long range» in order to prevent Assad from reconquering the whole Country.

The situation turned more complicated since Islamist radical groups such as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, which represent a regional and international security threats even if they are engaged in fighting Assad’s army. “Syria Friends” are really concerned about those groups, as testified from French President Hollade who said that «the opposition needs to win back control of these areas that have fallen into the hands of extremists». And because of the extremist presence it would be necessary developing an appropriate action plan in order to aid the rebels group without involuntarily advantaging radical combatants, so that potential terrorist group won’t be equipped and it won’t be given Assad the pretext for a heavily coercive action against his opponents. 

In the light of such consideration, the aid could be channelled through the Western-backed Supreme Military Council, a move that Washington and its European allies hope will prevent weapons falling into the hands of Islamist radicals; in this sense Salim Idris committed himself in managing and controlling supplies distribution.  

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Alessandro Mazzilli

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