EU FMs seeks deal on Syria arms embargo
Reuters
2013-05-27
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EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday were at odds with Britain and Austria over whether the European Union should ease an arms embargo to help Syrian rebels, leaving ministers struggling to find a compromise on the bloc's Syria policy.
Britain and France are pushing hard for the easing of the arms embargo to support rebels ahead of a peace conference sponsored by the United States and Russia expected next month.
Austria leads the camp of five of the EU's 27 governments firmly opposed to sending arms that they believe could deepen the two-year-old Syrian conflict that has cost 80,000 lives.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, CATHERINE ASHTON SAYING:
"This would be an opportunity for member states to discuss how they want to go forward. You know there are strong views in favour of trying to find a way that Europe can demonstrate not only that it is united, but also that it has a good and strong posit
EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday were at odds with Britain and Austria over whether the European Union should ease an arms embargo to help Syrian rebels, leaving ministers struggling to find a compromise on the bloc's Syria policy.
Britain and France are pushing hard for the easing of the arms embargo to support rebels ahead of a peace conference sponsored by the United States and Russia expected next month.
Austria leads the camp of five of the EU's 27 governments firmly opposed to sending arms that they believe could deepen the two-year-old Syrian conflict that has cost 80,000 lives.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, CATHERINE ASHTON SAYING:
"This would be an opportunity for member states to discuss how they want to go forward. You know there are strong views in favour of trying to find a way that Europe can demonstrate not only that it is united, but also that it has a good and strong posit
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