THE SYRIAN ARMY EMBARGO HAS EXPIRED: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SYRIA AND THE WEST?

 

 photo: AP

The arms embargo against Syria has not been renewed.  Ministers in Brussels failed to arrive at some accord on the matter and descended into heated fighting through the night.  At last the decision was a non decision: the arms embargo is gone.

But what does that mean for Assad? Does it mean that Russia can now double up on its shipments and does not have to wait for either the shipments to be delivered or on the scrutiny of the type or arms acquired by the Assad regime? 

But does this favor the rebels in any way? Not yet, since the EU countries have been essentially told not to start selling the arms to the insurgency, even after they have been officially recognized.

However, the EU states will be able soon to decide unilaterally whether to furnish arms to the rebels or not.  

The rest of the embargo packet, such as sanctions and asset freezing are remaining solidly in place.  

While France and the UK have been very vocal on lifting the embargo, many other countries including Germany and Austria have expressed deep reservation on doing so, citing the fact that about 400 Austrian international corps troops are stationed in the Golan Heights. 

But what the embargo lifting means too, is that Assad now will have to negotiate with  the notion in mind that the insurgency could very soon be outfitted with much more challenging and powerful weapons.  And that is the silver lining, if there is one. 

Russia for its part, is both a beneficiary and an opponent of letting the arms embargo expire.  They cite the fact that it could endanger the coming Arab conference's chances at coming to a meaningful settlement of the arms embargo question.  Although less than transparent, Russia's vocal opposition betrays its willingness to bolster the Assad regime till the end of the conflict. 

Source : Spiegel  5.27.13