Brussels
European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday not to renew an arms embargo on Syrian dissidents due to expire on May 31, making it possible for member states to transfer arms to the Syrian National Coalition (SNC).
The decision came after long discussions between divided ministers, who for the most part supported renewing the embargo with a few concessions. But British and French foreign ministers in particular pressed on in favor of ending the ban, AA correspondent reported.
The embargo on arms transfers will not be renewed according to the decision, but other sanctions, including a freeze of assets on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and members of his government, will remain in force.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the decision did not necessarily mean the states would immediately send arms.
EU member states have also made a joint pledge to limit the recipients to SNC and not to make any weapons delivery until August 1, at which point Ashton said the decision would be reviewed.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's remarks were influential in reaching the outcome, AA correspondent said.
Davutoglu called on his European counterparts to "send a clear message, by lifting the arms ban, to a regime that resorts to any means, including ethnic and sectarian cleansing."
"Turkey has from the beginning opposed military options and always worked for a peaceful solution," he said. "However, the violent campaign the Syrian regime wages on its people has not allowed for that. The international community needs to put an end to the present state of affairs."
Turkish foreign minister said the decision would not mean that a military solution was sought. "Rather, it would prove significant in the sense of giving psychological support for efforts towards a political resolution that have been rejuvenated by Geneva talks."
The ministers urged the Syrian opposition coalition to participate in the next month's international peace conference organized by the United States and Russia, the outcome of which will weigh heavily on EU's decision on whether or not to provide military support to Syrian rebels.
