Saudi Arabia and Qatar urge EU to arm Syrian rebels
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    • (JUNE 24-30)

    According to reports, Saudi Arabia and Qatar urged the European Union to “immediately” arm Syrian rebels fighting the regime of Bashar Al Assad. At a meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU) officials in Manama on June 30, 2013, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal stated that the EU “must immediately implement its decision” to lift an arms embargo on weapons destined for Syria’s opposition. He said that this was essential to offset assistance the Assad regime received from “Hezbollah and other forces backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards who get unlimited supplies of Russian weapons.” The EU has decided in May to lift an embargo on Syria’s armed opposition but it will only go into force in August. Saudi foreign minister also stated that, “The international community must ban the supply of weapons to the Syrian regime and demand that foreign occupation forces withdraw from Syria.” 1

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