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Tag: Syrian Opposition
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Syria opposition must distance itself from “terrorists:” Germany
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Syrian rebels told by West to unify and reject extremism
Syrian rebels told by West to unify and reject extremism
Syrian rebels were told by their western backers on Saturday they had to present a united face and reject extremism in return for a major new package of non-lethal assistance.
The West has been reluctant to provide even non-lethal aid to rebel fighters Photo: Reuters
By Richard Spencer, Istanbul
4:05PM BST 20 Apr 2013
Foreign ministers of nations backing the Syrian opposition, including William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, and John Kerry, the US secretary of state, met opposition leaders in Istanbul to thrash out a major new aid package.
They continue to reject directly supplying the opposition with arms, despite fighting reaching a bloody stalemate across the country, but the US was on the verge of announcing up to $200 million in “non-lethal” military aid – equipment such as body armour and night-vision goggles.
Diplomatic sources told The Daily Telegraph that in return the allies were demanding an end to internal wrangling in the opposition Syrian National Coalition, the Western-recognised political front for the rebels.
The SNC was being asked to sign up to a three-pronged pledge. They had to reject extremism and present an inclusive face to the world that included religious minorities, secular groups and women as well as the dominant Islamist faction.
Several secular members of the coalition have walked out in the last month, following the election of Ghassan Hitto, who is seen as close to the Muslim Brotherhood, as an interim prime minister for the rebels.
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They are also being told to commit to secure Syria’s chemical weapons, a major security concern, and to present a detailed plan for “the day after” – how basic services will be run whenever President Bashar al-Assad is forced from office, assuming he is.
Anti-Syrian regime protesters chant slogans and wave the Syrian revolutionary flag during a demonstration in Aleppo (AP)
Time is running out,” one diplomatic source said, adding that the Coalition needed to show unity to be recognised as a credible leadership by those doing the fighting inside Syria.
On Thursday, Mr Kerry told congressmen: “We want to make certain that the people we’re working with are committed to pluralism, diversity, to a democratic process. There have to be a series of guarantees.”
The West, represented in the “Friends of Syria” group, has been reluctant to provide even non-lethal aid to rebel fighters, keen not to get sucked into another Middle Eastern war and afraid of bolstering the many jihadist forces among the rebels.
But America is believed to be coordinating with Gulf allies like Saudi Arabia, which are sending weapons, and the SNC on Saturday called for more direct intervention. “While humanitarian aid is a dire necessity, the Syrian opposition is also looking for support that will enable the immediate fall of the regime and an end to the suffering of the Syrian people,” a statement said.
Underlining their demands, fierce fighting claims scores of lives on Saturday. Activists and the regime confirmed major battles in the Damascus suburbs and between Homs and the Lebanese border.
In Damascus, regime troops were attacking rebels who had seized the mixed Sunni and Christian suburbs of Jdeidat Artouz and Jdeidet al-Fadel. The activists’ Damascus media office said 69 people had been killed on the rebel side, including civilians.
Near the Lebanese border, an area divided between Sunni, Shia and Christian communities, regime forces swept into four rebel-held villages around the town of Qusayr. Earlier in the week, rebels seized part of an airbase north of Qusayr, showing the back-and-forth nature of the conflict.
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More U.S. Support for Syria Rebels Would Hinge on Pledges to Abide by Law
More U.S. Support for Syria Rebels Would Hinge on Pledges to Abide by Law
By MARK LANDLER and MICHAEL R. GORDON
Published: April 19, 2013
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WASHINGTON — President Obama has agreed to additional nonlethal aid for Syria’s rebels, according to a senior administration official, but its delivery will hinge in part on pledges by their political leaders to be inclusive, to protect minorities and to abide by the rule of law.
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Secretary of State John Kerry planned to meet with opposition leaders in Istanbul on Saturday, as well as with foreign ministers from nations that are supporting them, to discuss both what the United States plans to do to help the rebels and what it expects from them.
“It’s not a quid pro quo, but we want the opposition to do more,” said a senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s strategy. “Secretary Kerry will be discussing what steps we want them to take.”
The meeting in Turkey of the so-called Friends of Syria group is taking place against a backdrop of worsening violence in the two-year-old civil war, dire new worries about how to care for millions of displaced Syrians, and further signs of Islamist radicalization in the insurgency as well as intransigence by President Bashar al-Assad. The special Syria envoy of the Arab League and United Nations, Lakhdar Brahimi, told the Security Council on Friday that “the situation is extremely bad” and that he thinks daily about resigning.
The American package, officials said, includes protective military gear like body armor and night-vision goggles, as well as communications equipment — but not weapons. It comes on top of food rations and medicine announced by Mr. Kerry last February. While the State Department will determine the size of the package, an official said it could be double the $60 million in nonlethal aid already committed.
But Mr. Kerry’s expected announcement, officials said, may not come until after the United States secures a commitment from the Syrian opposition and its supporters that any government that replaces Mr. Assad’s would be inclusive, would protect the rights of his Alawite minority and other sects, and would abide by the rule of law.
Speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, Mr. Kerry said his goal was “to get everybody on the same page with respect to what post-Assad might look like — commitment to diversity, pluralism, democracy, inclusivity, protection of minority rights.”
In addition, Mr. Kerry said, the United States wanted the opposition to be “open to the negotiating process to a political settlement” and to “abide by rules with respect to conduct in warfare.”
While the United States and European nations have insisted on democratic principles, American officials have been concerned that some of the opposition’s financial backers in Persian Gulf states have been less particular about the rebel factions they aid.
Among those that Mr. Kerry said he wanted to put “on the same page” are the “Qataris, Saudis, Emirates, Turks,” as well as the Europeans. Nurturing a unified, moderate opposition has been complicated by regional rivalries, with countries pushing their own favorites.
Not everyone in the Obama administration has necessarily been on the same page on policy toward the Syrian resistance. And State Department officials hope that the Istanbul meeting will enable the American side to close ranks as well.
In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, voiced concern about the growing role of extremists among the anti-Assad fighters in Syria, and said identifying moderate members of the Syrian resistance had become more difficult.
“It’s actually more confusing on the opposition side today than it was six months ago,” General Dempsey said.
During his Senate testimony on Thursday, Mr. Kerry, when asked about General Dempsey’s comments, said one purpose of the Istanbul meeting was to identify and reinforce the moderate opposition.
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Reporting was contributed by Alan Cowell from London; Hwaida Saad and Anne Barnard from Beirut, Lebanon; and Rick Gladstone from New York.
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Al-Khatib against calls for “Islamic state”
Syria is a country where moderate Islam dominates, said Khatib, President of Syrian National Coalition.
ISTANBUL — President of the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib said that Syria was a country where moderate Islam dominated.A conference on “Islam and Just Transition in Syria” began in Istanbul so the Syrian Muslim scholars could put forward their approaches to the transitional process in Syria.
A high number of Syrian Muslim scholars and important names of the Syrian opposition attended the conference.
Speaking at the inauguration of the conference, al-Khatib underlined that in order for Islam’s real message to be understood, a revolution must take place in human’s understanding of religion.
Due to wrong methods, small problems occupy more time than greater problems, al-Khatib noted.
The aim of the revolution was to free humans, al-Khatib stated.
“Everyone should receive just treatment. Otherwise, anarchy would prevail and humans, based on certain reasons, would cause the spill of blood of others. There is tyranny in our country (Syria) as never seen before. A serious danger awaits us in the future. There is need for serious works so humans do not violate each other’s rights,” al-Khatib underlined.
Criticizing Al-Qaeda’s call to establish an Islamic state in Syria, al-Khatib advised those fighting in Syria not to listen to thoughts coming from outside.
” Syria was a country where moderate Islam dominated.Syria is the center of enlightenment. Syria has a large number of scholars. Scholars of Syria can help each other,” al-Khatib said.
“Revolution to continue until victory arrives”
Chairman of the Syrian National Council (SNC), George Sabra underlined that the Syrian regime persecuted its own people and the world acted as if they were blind.
“Revolution will continue until victory arrived. Justice will come with victory. Unless there is just punishment, justice can not be established. There will be a just constitution in new Syria and there will not be discrimination against any person or group. We will not treat those guilty with revenge. There will be just trials. Upcoming days would be nice,” Sabra stated.
”Syria will belong to all Syrians”
Prime Minister of the Syrian interim government, Ghassan Hitto emphasized the importance of Islam’s message while moving to a state of law with justice and equality from a regime which placed pressure on people.
A consensus will take place in Syria on a strong societal structure, Hitto said.
“Syria will belong to all Syrians. Damages incurred by Syrian people would be compensated. The Justice Ministry would be restructured and just trials will take place,” Hitto noted.
The conference will end on Tuesday.
Islamic NGOs reject al-Qaeda announcement for “Islamic State in Iraq and Damascus”
Syrian Islamic non-governmental organizations (NGOs) rejected announcement made by “Iraqi Islamic State” organization, the Iraqi wing of al-Qaeda, on the establishment of an “Islamic State in Iraq and Damascus”.
In a joint statement made, the Union of Syrian Muslim Scholars, Union of Damascus Scholars, Union of Syrian Revolutionary Ulema and Inviters, and Syrian Islamic Forum underlined that al-Qaeda organization did not represent the people of Syria.
“It is unacceptable to see a group, without a government or a certain territory, to announce the establishment of a state by not consulting with the relevant people and the scholars of the region and forcing the people to obey them. Our people have the strength to establish their own state with their own power and means,” the statement said.
Referring to the Nusra Front in Syria and comments made by leader of the Nusra Front Abu Muhammad al-Golani that they were attached to al-Qaeda, the statement said “your struggle along with other armed groups in Syria is known and your support to the struggle is well appreciated. The people’s calling themselves ‘We are all Nusra Front’ on a Friday is an indication of the appreciation”.
“Nusra Front’s declaration of attachment to al-Qaeda strengthens the hands of the Assad regime, presents the justification foreign powers need to intervene in Syria, and gives the excuse to the Syrian government to react against those ‘terrorists’ fighting in Syria. We call on our brethren at the Nusra Front to end obeying al-Qaeda and consult with those warriors on the field and scholars,” the statement underlined.
“There is no bigger terror than that applied by the Syrian regime”
“Our people will consider it a conspiracy against itself if an intervention takes place targeting the groups fighting in Syria or if the Syrian people were placed under a blockade with an excuse of ‘struggling against terrorists’. There is no bigger terror than that applied by the Syrian regime. We reject the intervention of all forms of organizations to determine the future of the Syrian state as well as any imposition from the international community to us to sit down with the Syrian regime at the table. The future of Syria will be determined by those who love Syria,” the statement also said.
Al-Qaeda’s Iraqi wing, “Iraqi Islamic State” organization on April 9 had announced that they united with the Nusra Front.
Nusra Front leader Abu Muhammad al-Golani had said that they had not taken a joint decision with the “Iraqi Islamic State” organization but that they were attached to al-Qaeda.
16 April 2013
Anadolu Agency
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Belgium asks Turkey to watch for Belgians crossing into Syria
“We are in close cooperation with Turkey on this issue and we have asked them for additional monitoring [of border crossings],” Joelle Milquet, Belgium’s deputy prime minister and interior minister, said during a radio interview on Saturday.
Belgium has asked Turkey to help in its efforts to prevent Belgian nationals from illegally crossing into Syria to fight alongside opposition forces trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
“We are in close cooperation with Turkey on this issue and we have asked them for additional monitoring [of border crossings],” Joelle Milquet, Belgium’s deputy prime minister and interior minister, said during a radio interview on Saturday. She said she was planning to travel to Turkey for further talks on the matter.
Milquet’s remarks come amid growing media attention on Belgian youth secretly traveling to Syria to join anti-regime fighters there, upsetting their families in most cases. The Belgian government has taken some measures to prevent such travels, introducing restrictions on traveling to Turkey for teenagers younger than 16. Particularly those youth living in neighborhoods populated by Moroccan immigrants are reported to be under increased police scrutiny.
Turkey has received hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have fled the civil war in their country and is a major supporter of the opposition forces trying to topple the Assad regime. Assad accuses Turkey of allowing foreign fighters and arms to cross into Syria, a charge Turkey denies.
via Belgium asks Turkey to watch for Belgians crossing into Syria | Europe | World Bulletin.
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ISTANBUL: Rebels pick US citizen as Syrian prime minister
BY BEN HUBBARD
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ghassan Hitto, the Syrian opposition’s newly elected interim prime minister, center right, and head of the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces Mouaz al-Khatib, center left, and other members seen during a meeting in Istanbul,
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/19/3295208/rebels-pick-us-citizen-as-syrian.html#storylink=cpyISTANBUL — The man chosen to head the Syrian opposition’s new interim government is a Syrian-born American citizen who has spent decades in the United States working for technology companies and advocating for various Muslim causes.
Members of the opposition Syrian National Coalition elected Ghassan Hitto in a vote early Tuesday to head an administration they hope will provide an alternative to President Bashar Assad’s regime and help coordinate the fight against his forces.
“The new government will work from the starting point of complete national sovereignty and the unity of the Syrian land and people, which can only by achieved through continued determination to topple Bashar Assad, his regime and all its pillars,” he said in a speech in Istanbul.
Much remains unknown about the body that Hitto will lead, including how many ministers it will have and if it will receive enough support to project its authority inside Syria, where it is supposed to set up operations.
The head of the coalition, Mouaz al-Khatib, threw his support behind the new body, and the head of the coalition’s military leadership, Gen. Salim Idris, did the same Monday before the results were announced.
But the new government could find it difficult to become the top rebel authority in Syria. A patchwork of rebel brigades and local councils has sprung up in areas seized from government forces, many of them struggling to provide services and running their own security, prisons and courts.
Hundreds of loosely affiliated rebels groups are involved in the civil war against government forces, and they are unlikely to submit to an outside authority unless it can provide them with aid such as arms and ammunition.
Due to his many years in the United States, Hitto is little known inside Syria and even among some members of the mostly exile coalition.
Coalition member Salah al-Hamwi, who is in charge of the coalition’s local councils in Hama province, said he had worked with Hitto to deliver aid and was impressed that he had left his life in the U.S. to use his skills for Syria.
“He has the mind of an accountant, not an emotional mind, so he is very good at analyzing what needs to be done,” he said.
Others in the coalition complained of his selection.
Veteran opposition figure Kamal al-Labwani said he suspected Hitto had been put in place by larger political powers, like Qatar, which has heavily financed the opposition, and the Muslim Brotherhood.
He also said he as a coalition member never got to meet or question Hitto before his election.
“I wanted to ask him what the women in Daraya wear and what’s the population of Homs?” he said, suggesting that Hitto was out of touch with Syria.
“I wanted to ask him how many years he’s lived in Syria,” he said. “He left when he was young.”
Hitto won 35 of the 48 votes cast by the coalition’s 63 active members.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland welcomed Hitto’s election, saying the U.S. was aware of his aid work.
“This is an individual who, out of concern for the Syrian people, left a very successful life in Texas to go and work on humanitarian relief for the people of his home country,” she said.
She added: “We’re very hopeful that his election will foster unity and cohesion among the opposition.”
Hitto’s many years abroad and fluent English could facilitate his efforts to win international support for his government. He called on the international community on Tuesday to grant his government Syria’s seats at the Arab League and the United Nations.
Hitto was born in Syria’s capital of Damascus in 1963 and moved to the United States as a young man, where he earned double bachelors’ degrees from Purdue University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, according to the coalition.
He worked for IT companies and advocated for a number of Muslim causes. After 9/11, he helped found the Muslim Legal Fund of America, which provides legal support to Arabs, Muslims and Asians. He also helped run an Islamic private school in Garland, Texas. Its website describes it as a place “where knowledge, faith, academics and character meet!”
Hitto is a member of Syria’s Kurdish ethnic minority, though he is not considered a representative of the community, which has not joined the coalition.
He is married to a teacher and has four children.
In a speech to a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2012, he spoke of his son, Obaida, who was applying to law school when “he made up his mind … to help the people of Syria.” His son has since been in the embattled city of Deir al-Zour, shooting videos to post online.
The elder Hitto left Texas late last year to move to Turkey, where he helped run the coalition’s aid program to Syria.
In the video of the Fort Worth rally, posted online in September, Hitto criticized Assad’s regime for deploying its army to suppress political protests while not sending it to take back the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967 and later annexed.
“They were faced with live bullets, with tanks, with soldiers, an army that did not bother to fire a single bullet to claim or to attempt to reclaim its own occupied land for 42 years,” he said.
Associated Press writer Bradley Klapper contributed reporting from Washington.
via ISTANBUL: Rebels pick US citizen as Syrian prime minister – World Wires – MiamiHerald.com.
