Obama
Recognizes Syrian Opposition Group
In
a diplomatic shift, President Obama said today his administration now
formally recognizes the newly-formed, leading coalition of Syrian
rebels who are fighting to topple Syria's embattled President Bashar
Assad.
11
November, 2012
"We've
made a decision that the Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive
enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian
population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the
Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime," Obama said.
The
announcement, made during an exclusive interview with ABC News'
Barbara Walters, grants new legitimacy to the rebel group and marks a
new phase in U.S. efforts to isolate the Assad regime.
"It's
a big step," Obama said of the decision. The United States
follows Britain and the European Union, both of which last month
recognized the Syrian opposition group.
More
of Barbara Walters' exclusive first joint, post-election interview
with President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama airs Friday, Dec.
14, on "20/20" at 10 p.m. ET on ABC stations.
The
diplomatic designation will allow the United States to more closely
support rebel efforts, including the organization of a future
post-Assad government, administration officials said.
"Obviously,
with that recognition comes responsibilities," Obama said of the
young coalition. "To make sure that they organize themselves
effectively, that they are representative of all the parties, [and]
that they commit themselves to a political transition that respects
women's rights and minority rights."
The
move does not include the provision of weapons, but it opens the door
for that possibility in the future.
"Providing
arms has to be done in a way that helps promote a political
solution," one senior Obama administration official said today.
"And until we understand how these arms promote a political
solution, we do not see how provision of arms is a good idea."
But
the official added, "the president has never ruled out in the
future providing arms."
Obama
expressed caution today about some Syrian factions involved with the
coalition, warning that the United States will not support extremist
elements.
"Not
everybody who's participating on the ground in fighting Assad are
people who we are comfortable with," Obama told Walters. "There
are some who, I think, have adopted an extremist agenda, an anti-U.S.
agenda, and we are going to make clear to distinguish between those
elements."
The
president specifically singled out the group Jabhat al-Nusrah for its
alleged affiliation with Al Qaeda in Iraq. The State Department says
the jihadist group is responsible for nearly 600 violent attacks in
major Syrian cities in the past year.
"Through
these attacks, al-Nusrah has sought to portray itself as part of the
legitimate Syrian opposition while it is, in fact, an attempt by [Al
Qaeda in Iraq] to hijack the struggles of the Syrian people for its
own malign purposes," State Department spokeswoman Victoria
Nuland said.
The
Obama administration blacklisted al-Nusrah earlier this week,
imposing economic sanctions and branding it a terrorist organization.
Recognition
of the Syrian rebel group has been expected. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton was to formally announce the new relations with the
United States during a meeting of international allies supporting
Syria's rebels in Marrakech, Morocco, on Wednesday.
She
has since cancelled her trip because of an illness. Her deputy, Bill
Burns, will attend in her place....
For
interview GO
HERE
US recognizes Syrian opposition body
RT,
11
December, 2012
US
President Barack Obama has recognized the main Syrian opposition
group as the sole "legitimate representative" of Syria.
This brings the US in line with its allies, including Britain, France
and several Arab states.
"We've
made a decision that the Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive
enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian
population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the
Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime,"
Obama said in an interview with ABC.
The
recognition marks a major boost for the Syrian rebels seeking to
topple Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"Obviously,
with that recognition comes responsibilities,"
Obama said in the interview on Tuesday. "To
make sure that they organize themselves effectively, that they are
representative of all the parties, that they commit themselves to a
political transition that respects women's rights and minority
rights." government.
This
comes after the US Department of State declared
a key Syrian rebel group – al-Nusra Front – a terrorist
organization.
The move was taken despite the group’s success in fighting the
Assad regime and protecting rebel strongholds.
The
rebel group has been blacklisted for the alleged links it has to
Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). US officials have expressed concern that
al-Qaeda loyalists and radical Islamists are planning to take control
of the opposition movement and influence any post-Assad government.
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