US to recognise Syrian opposition

The US has decided to recognise the opposition in Syria, President Barack Obama has announced, following similar decisions by Britain and European Union in this regard.

“We’ve made a decision that the Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime,” Obama told ABC News yesterday.

The announcement to give legitimacy to the Syrian opposition comes on the eve of the crucial meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People meeting in Morocco today.

Terming the decision a “big step”, Obama said the decision would allow the US to offer more support to the Syrian rebels who are fighting against the Assad regime.

“Obviously, with that recognition comes responsibilities. To make sure that they organise themselves effectively, that they are representative of all the parties, (and) that they commit themselves to a political transition that respects women’s rights and minority rights,” Obama said.

However, the US administration has ruled out supplying arms to the Syrian Opposition at this point of time.

“Providing arms has to be done in a way that helps promote a political solution. And until we understand how these arms promote a political solution, we do not see how provision of arms is a good idea,” a senior administration said.

Earlier due to illness, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cancelled her trip to Morocco for attending the Syrian meeting, after which Deputy Secretary of State William Burns would represent in the meeting wherein the formal announcement of recognising the Syrian opposition would be made.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told presspersons that the US is pleased with the Syrian Opposition Coalition’s continued efforts to organise, form technical committees, engage with the international community, and take concrete steps to promote a unified, just, democratic future for Syria.

“These actions are in line with what we and our international partners hoped would result from the formation of the Syrian Opposition Coalition in Doha last month,” he said.

“The US stands with the Syrian people in insisting that any transition process result in a peaceful, unified and democratic Syria, in which all citizens — Sunni, Alawite, Christians, Kurds, Druze, men, women and children — are protected,” he said, insisting that any such future will not include President Bashar al-Assad.

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