European Union, said its members will be able to send in a few days to help the Syrian rebels outgunned weapons and seek pressure President Bashar Assad's regime ahead of planned peace talks mediated by the United States and Russia.
Although there is no EU country has such a plan, and now send weapons, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the decision "sends a very strong message from Europe to the Assad regime." He spoke through an entire day foreign ministers meeting Monday in the European Union did not hesitate to expose foreign conflicts fed weapons only a few months after the 27-member bloc won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said: "This is very important, do not do anything to cause trouble. Began providing weapons now trouble. Did not intend to do so."
However, an attempt to force Syria to participate in next month quasi-sincere "Geneva II" talks, meeting in Brussels hanging option to send weapons and military equipment as soon as Saturday, when the current sanctions regime ends.
The prospect of EU arms rebels maintain stiff economic sanctions against Assad's regime, but also to send a message to Russia. Moscow has made no secret of the Assad regime sent weapons - EU deliveries of weapons can be partially re-balancing the civil war, when it comes to firepower.
Several EU ministers said the armed opposition will create a more level playing field could force Assad into a negotiated settlement.
Britain and France - Europe's biggest military powers - has been pushing the EU to lift its embargo on arms shipments into Syria to help troubled opposition. But Austria, has sent peacekeeping troops to Syria and the Golan Heights between Israel and is verbally oppose - that some EU countries, the region has been the proliferation of weapons.
EU countries will review their application for an export license alone will not proceed one by one, "transporting military equipment" At this stage, the joint statement said, although it is not specified, it may be changed.
August 1, the EU ministers agreed to revisit the issue, but the state, the previous guidelines on the basis of the EU, you can now decide for themselves whether they want to arm the rebels.
EU countries also agreed that everything possible should be done to control exports and ensure that they do not fall into the hands of extremists or terrorists - France and England one of the most intractable problems in their call armed rebels. Each country will require adequate safeguards against misuse of authorization (export) granted EU text says. "
Haig said that Britain would only send weapons "the company with other countries in a strictly controlled circumstances and in compliance with international law."
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius left to return to the Paris talks earlier Monday met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is leading efforts to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table Syria.
Assad's government has agreed in principle to participate in the peace talks in Geneva, but the exact date, agenda and participants remain unclear.
In Paris, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's officials did not comment the EU arms sales decision.
A State Department official also said that the department realized that armed supporters of the Syrian rebels Senator John McCain, crossing into Syrian territory last Monday. A further problem, called McCain's office, which confirms unannounced trip, but did not disclose specific details.
McCain met with the rebels in Syria. Obama administration policy fierce critic of Syria has stopped short term support for the U.S. ground forces.
France more urgent EU arms debate Monday, pointing to the conflict Fabius use of chemical weapons by more and more signs.
EU countries have been staunch opponents of the war Assad and his regime's restrictive measures, including visa restrictions and economic sanctions have been growing steadily. In February, the EU arms embargo amended to allow non-lethal equipment and medicine to protect Syrian civilians. All of these measures have expired on May 31, but almost all of the sanctions, including restrictions on exports and imports, visa, and some of Syria's capital, to extend by one year.
Washington has been reluctant to provide more sophisticated weapons, rebels fear that they might end up in radical Islamic factions, including al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat AL-Nusra been the most effective fighting force, a group of the hands of the opposition.
 
 



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