Hague to boost Syrian rebels’ aid
BRITAIN and America sought to reassure Syria’s opposition forces that stronger international help was imminent as US Secretary of State John Kerry vowed not to leave them “dangling in the wind”.
Mr Kerry urged those resisting the Assad regime’s brutal crackdown not to boycott a meeting of international allies as he kicked off an 11-day tour of European and Middle East capitals in London.
And Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was poised to “significantly increase” assistance after securing a relaxation of an EU embargo on non-lethal equipment.
Declaring Washington’s “special relationship” with the UK “stronger than ever”, Mr Kerry said it was “no accident” he had chosen London as his first overseas visit just weeks after taking office.
However, after a 10 Downing Street breakfast with Prime Minister David Cameron and talks with Mr Hague, he declined to take sides in Britain’s dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.
Washington’s position remained that it recognised “de facto UK administration” of the South Atlantic territory but “takes no position on the question of parties’ sovereignty claims”, he said.
Mr Cameron did not broach the issue in his talks, leaving it for Mr Hague to discuss with the one-time presidential hopeful chosen by Mr Obama to succeed Hillary Clinton in the foreign affairs brief.
Top of the agenda for the talks were efforts to restart the Middle East peace process, the proposed EU/ US free trade agreement and ongoing tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
However, a press conference with Mr Hague was dominated by questions about steps to end the bloodshed in Syria after the opposition said it would stay away from a meeting of the “Friends of Syria” group in Rome on Thursday. Mr Hague said he hoped to be able to set out escalated assistance within weeks.