TURKEY: Syrian opposition calls on Russia and U.S. to take concrete steps against the use of chemical weapons in Syria as they urge EU countries to implement their own sanctions

Record ID: 276510

  • Title: TURKEY: Syrian opposition calls on Russia and U.S. to take concrete steps against the use of chemical weapons in Syria as they urge EU countries to implement their own sanctions
  • Date: 27th May 2013
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (MAY 27, 2013) (REUTERS) SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE ADIB SHISHAKLY IN LOBBY (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION GCC REPRESENTATIVE, ADIB SHISHAKLY, SAYING: "(I hope) each individual European country in the EU will take their own action and support the Syrian people in protecting themselves. This is a mus
  • Embargoed: 11th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ZVV9IUNQ5W1GL84JRX4CUEX7
  • Story Text: The opposition Syrian National Council on Monday (May 27) called on Russia and U.S. to take concrete steps against the usage of chemical weapons in Syria, as well as urging EU countries to lift an arms embargo.
    "(I hope) each individual European country in the EU will take their own action and support the Syrian people in protecting themselves. This is a must. We cannot wait. The next meeting date is in August. We are losing lives everyday, we just cannot wait anymore," said Adib Shishakly from the Syrian National Coalition.
    The comments came as EU foreign ministers were holding a marathon negotiating session in Brussels, including the prospect of lifting an arms embargo on Syrian rebels.
    Shishakly called on the U.S. and Russia to address reports of chemical weapon attacks by President Bashar al-Assad's forces on rebel areas.
    "Mr Kerry and the Russian Foreign Minister stated many times that it is red lines, it is not only Americans who stated or Obama who stated (chemicals) it is a red line, also the Russians said it is a red line, but till now we have only heard words and no action while the Syrians are getting killed with chemical weapons," Shishakly added.
    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday they would do their utmost to bring Syria's warring parties to the table at a proposed conference expected to held in mid-June in Geneva.
    Lavrov said holding a conference to end Syria's civil war will be a "tall order", but he saw some chance of success.
    The proposed conference reflects the first serious diplomatic effort in nearly a year to end the conflict in which more than 80,000 people are believed to have died and millions have fled their homes.
    Anas Abda, another member of the Syrian National Council, said Lavrov was already showing skepticism over the success of such a conference.
    "We all understand that one of the main output of a possible Geneva convention meeting is a transitional government with full authority by mutual consent of both the opposition and the regime, and also it is not the first time that Lavrov is showing some kind of skepticism around the possibility of actual success or the ability to form such a conference as soon as possible."
    Heavy fighting raged on Monday around the strategic Syrian border town of Qusair and the capital Damascus, with further reports of chemical weapons attacks by government forces.
    Syrian government offensives in recent weeks are widely seen as an attempt to bolster Assad's negotiating position before the planned conference.
    Both sides in the conflict, now in its third year, have accused each other of using chemical weapons.
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