The Syrian National Council, formed in
Istanbul on 2nd October, has moved forward in its bid to seek
international recognition. The EU’s foreign ministers have agreed a
statement which welcomes the formation of the SNC. The
statement on 10th October called the creation of the body, “a
positive step forward," and condemned the "brutal repression led by
the Syrian regime against its population". This comes a day after Syria
threatened to take “tough measures” against any country that recognised the
Council.
However, the words of French Foreign
Minister Alain Juppe, reflect the EU’s cautious approach to the newly formed
Syrian body. France was the first EU country to recognise the Libyan interim
council, but Juppe said that the Syrian body did not “have the same structure.”
He continued, “we are not at the stage of recognition. I believe we have to get
to know them better and get a better idea of their intentions.” Although the
statement stopped short of formally recognising the Council as the official
opposition this still provides the SNC with a level of international support
and legitimacy.
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