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Georges Gobet / AFP - Getty Images
Luxembourg Foreign Affairs minister Jean Asselborn, left to right, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Polish Foreign Affairs minister Radoslaw Sikorski talk prior to a Foreign Affairs Council at the EU Headquarters in Brussels on Dec. 10, 2012.
EU foreign ministers, meeting the leader of the Syrian opposition on Monday, moved toward full recognition of a new coalition ahead of a diplomatic gathering aimed at bolstering aid for rebels fighting President Bashar Assad.
In part because of concerns about the presence of radical Islamists among the rebels, the European Union did not offer full recognition to the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), as Britain and France have. The bloc also has called on the grouping to become more inclusive.
But the EU offered to "continue engaging with and to support the Coalition" as it worked towards creating "a credible alternative to the current regime" of President Assad.
"It is the right time to upgrade the SNC today," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters in Brussels, where foreign ministers had gathered.
"We think it will be an important means to promote the process of erosion in the regime of Assad."
Recent steps toward full recognition show how the formation of a united Syrian opposition has galvanized overseas support for the rebels.
Rebels have captured a Syrian army base outside Aleppo, tightening the oppositions grip in some areas. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
View from northern Syria: Rebels control countryside, open roads
Mouaz Alkhatib, a popular Damascene preacher, was in Brussels ahead of the Friends of Syria meeting scheduled for Wednesday in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to announce Washington's backing for the new Syrian coalition at that meeting.
Alkhatib said he expected to get a decision on Wednesday from the EU over whether it would recognize the coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
"This is under discussion because the European countries each have their own point of view and they are debating the issue," he told reporters after he left midway through the ministers' meeting. "They will give the final answer in Marrakesh."
The EU - whose leaders on Monday received the Nobel Peace Prize for its promotion of stability and democracy - reminded Alkhatib of his responsibilities.
"The EU encourages the Coalition ... to remain committed to the respect of the principles of human rights, inclusivity [sic], democracy and engaging with all opposition groups and all sections of Syrian civil society," the ministers said in a statement.
Alkhatib gave them "some very clear assurances about the inclusivity of the National Coalition," according to British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
These assurances included the coalition's desire to represent all people living in Syria, and included references to Kurds and Christians living there, he said.
"I've urged him to once again make very clear the commitment of the national coalition to all the things the Assad regime is not committed to," Hague said, adding that this meant commitments "to human rights, to international humanitarian law, to democracy and freedom for the people of Syria".
Reviewing sanctions
Pushed by Britain, the EU decided at the end of November to review sanctions on Syria every three months instead of every year to make it easier to equip the rebels in the future.
The sanctions include an embargo on the supply of arms to the country, imposed to prevent the flow of weapons to Assad's forces. The new, shorter review period will allow the EU to look at amendments to the embargo to possibly allow the supply of non-lethal equipment to the Syrian rebels.
Ministers discussed possible supplies on Monday, but Greece said it would oppose any such move, said one EU diplomat.
The EU has said in the past that it would support taking action against war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria to the International Criminal Court. However, ministers decided on Monday that such a move could complicate their work with the new opposition for now, the diplomat said.
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This has been a very long and bloody civil war. It has to end with the end of Assad's dictatorship. The only reason why the EU and the U.S. have kept an arm's length is the fact that Russia supports the government. Russia has their only small Naval base outside their country in Tartus, Syria and their only fueling spot in the Mediterranean. They also have many military personnel and advisers in the country.
There is no way to extend this fighting and hope the Assad regime will prevail. At the end, only many more lives will be lost in vain.
War is peace....Freedom is slavery....Ignorance is strength."~ George Orwell, 1984
Once again the Wall Street Corrupted Corporate Media just keeps pushing their Disinformation & Propaganda and Obama will get his next UN "Not War" at "Our" Expense and "Their" Profits just you wait and see!
Now suddenly the EU is supporting the Syrian Rebels (Al Qaeda) and telling everybody who is or is not the legitimate Government of Syria?Did the "Russians or Chinese" get a vote? Since they have said "Hands Off" don't you think they might decide to Blame US?
Wake Up Folks a few days ago Obama was threatening Syria over their "WMD" and then the Pentagon says "No evidence" of mixing the chemicals. Then suddenly once again the "Syrians" were / are cooking "Dope" according to Obama's "Pinata"!
Give US a break....This endless Disinformation & Propaganda is being spewed forth by Wall Streets Corporate Media is just to justify another "False Flag Operation". While "we" are supporting and encouraging Al Qaeda to attack "Targets of Opportunity" at every Opportunity in Syria which admittedly includes Civilians at the Air Port and Syria's Chemical Weapons Facilities....Then we threaten Assad if he tries to move those same said weapons.
Psst before you Arm Chair Chicken Hawks jump of the WMD Band Wagon remember "Israel" and Turkey own or have access to Nuclear Weapons and not just "Chemical weapons)!
So far Turkey is the "Admitted" Aggressor against Syria by supporting Al Qaeda in Syria, which is against the NATO Treaty and we have NO BUSINESS getting involved supporting Al Qaeda first in Libya now in Syria! The Russians and the Chinese have already said "They" will get involved if we attack Syria!
NATO's Patriot move is step to involvement in Syria: Russia......http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-nato-russiabre8b60o3-20121207,0,7630851.story
What is Syria worth to you Rambo's?
New York City or maybe LA? How about Houston or Seattle or Miami? The one place you can bet your last dollar won't go up in a "Mushroom Cloud" will be Washington DC so maybe it is time to "Rush" DC!
This nonsense just proves once again that it is the Time to get US out of NATO and these Endless UN Globalists "Not Wars".....Let US stop letting the Tail Wag the Dog and if Wall Street want to start another "Not War", let "Them" Pay for it this time!
Folks this has all been planned since the False Flag Attack on America on 09/11/2001 (if not before) and we need to Wake Up and run the Social Not Liberals, the Wall Street Weasels and the Corporate Welfare RATS out of Our Government!
Don't believe....Watch Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Wesley Clark (a TRUE American Hero) play "Connect A Dot" with 9/11 and lay out EXACTLY what the Military / Corporate Plutocracies plans always where ......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RC1Mepk_Sw&feature=g-all-f
Then Watch this new PBS Documentary........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l-8PFk8j5I and ask yourself why?
If you cannot understand the "Truth" of Wall Streets New Military Plutocracy that is now Controlling America it is because you intentionally choose not to....
Remember only you can say NO to more False Flag Operations in the name of Quarterly Profits!
It is time to stop the "War On America" (oops Terror).....Let US put an End to these UN Globalist "Not Wars" for Wall Streets and the Military Industrial Corporations Wagging the Dog!
Impeach Obama in 2012 for Criminal Conspiracy to Cover Up the Murder of an American Ambassador, Secret CIA Prisons and Supporting Al Qaeda in Benghazi-Gate!
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever." ~George Orwell,
How satirical; it seems like getting awarded the Nobel Peace Prize is about as prestigious as a high five these days. A high five from your minions after pushing the same kid in the dirt after school again.
Good, let Europe take care of the Millions of Muslims that will want to Immigrate to Europe when this is over.