2013-05-28 14:15:44

End of embargo raises fears of arms race in Syria


(Vatican Radio) Russia confirmed today it was looking into giving the Syrian government more high-powered missiles. The move comes one day after the European Union agreed to lift its arms embargo for Syrian rebels, raising the prospect of a new foreign-fed arms race in the Middle East.

Advocacy groups working for peace in Syria have expressed their concerns about the end of the voluntary EU arms embargo.

The decision to end the embargo “would not have been our choice,” said Jan Jaap van Oosterzee of IKV Pax Christi. He emphasized the need to protect civilians, saying that “arming the opposition, even with the best intentions, is probably not the best way” to do that.

Given the likelihood that some countries would begin to arm rebel groups, van Oosterzee called on those countries to “take a strong ‘protection of civilians’ perspective.” He said priorities should include determining “what sort of arms could be important to protect civilians effectively” and ensuring that weapons are not lost in the chaos. “That would be very difficult,” he said, and “that’s why we would not advocate for it. But, if they are going to do it anyway, there are really steps they can take to do it as responsibly as possible.”

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