EGYPT: Arab League Chief Nabil Elaraby met with 16 members representing different sects of the Syrian opposition, uniting several months of a divided opposition

Record ID: 281075

  • Title: EGYPT: Arab League Chief Nabil Elaraby met with 16 members representing different sects of the Syrian opposition, uniting several months of a divided opposition
  • Date: 22nd June 2012
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JUNE 21, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ARAB LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS IN CAIRO ARAB LEAGUE FLAG VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION'S PREPARATORY COMMITTEE WITH SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE, NABIL ELARABY FLAGS OF ARAB LEAGUE MEMBER STATES ELARABY WALKING IN, TAKING HIS SEAT FOR NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic)
  • Embargoed: 7th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1KJ6VT2PBWYBUQRWD4HBMJNR8
  • Story Text: Arab League Chief Nabil Elaraby met with 16 members representing different sects of the Syrian opposition on Thursday (June 21) uniting several months of a divided opposition.
    Following a meeting in Turkey, where the 16 members were selected, a preparatory committee was formed ahead of a broader conference where the opposition is expected to outline Syria's political future.
    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Elaraby thanked the Turkish government for its success in achieving what the Arab League has been aiming for since September 2011.
    "They have succeeded in uniting the opposition and the opposition has succeeded in naming 16 people to represent all factions that are currently meeting in Cairo. I met with them this morning and their meetings will continue with the aim of holding a broader meeting with the participation of all factions of the Syrian opposition on the 2nd and 3rd of the coming month," Elaraby said.
    Elaraby also stressed that the ongoing 15-month revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, that has recently turned into an armed struggle between rebel troops and forces still loyal to Assad, needs international cooperation.
    "What is going on in Syria is a tragedy but its reasons are internal from my point of view. I understand that the Syrian government is constantly saying there has been external interference, and maybe there has been interference but I do not have any knowledge on the matter and whether there is or there isn't, this is another matter. But there are also internal reasons and to address this issue there must be international cooperation," he said.
    Elaraby also expected a meeting of leaders of the 'big five' in Geneva on June 30th to produce "practical mechanisms" to resolve the crisis in Syria.
    "The liaison committee that will meet firstly has the 'big five' countries and these 'big five' countries have never met on this issue before. All of the previous meetings of the 'Friends of Syria' only had one or two of these countries but this time, the five of them will meet and this is extremely important because this is the key," he said.
    International efforts to halt the violence are deadlocked because Russia and China, which hold veto power in the U.N. Security Council, have blocked tougher action against Assad, their strategic regional ally. They say the solution must come through political dialogue, an approach most of the Syrian opposition rejects.
    The League's deputy secretary general Ahmed Ben Helli urged Russia on Thursday (June 21) to halt arms sales to Syria and said that U.N. sanctions could be needed to force Assad and the rebels to implement a failing peace plan. He headed an Arab League delegation to hold talks about Syria.
    The United Nations says more than 10,000 people have been killed by government forces during the conflict, while Syria says at least 2,600 members of the military and security forces have been killed by what it calls foreign-backed "Islamist terrorists".
    A peace plan proposed by international envoy and Nobel Peace laureate Kofi Annan has all but collapsed and the West is unwilling to intervene militarily, as it did in Libya last year.
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