Britain and Sweden don’t differ on much. We did this week on whether to lift the EU arms embargo on the legitimate opposition in Syria.
We argued for the lift for political, security and humanitarian reasons. Our priority is a political transition that ends the conflict, allows refugees to return home, and prevents further radicalisation in Syria and the region.
We will therefore do all we can to ensure the forthcoming Geneva II conference delivers that outcome.
The decision to end the arms embargo supports those efforts to bring about political progress and a diplomatic solution by sending a message to the Assad regime. The EU will no longer be witnesses to slaughter, with a heavily armed government smashing civilians.
We have made no decision to send arms to the National Coalition. We are of course engaged in prudent planning. Our focus is on Geneva II. But we now have the flexibility to respond in the future if talks fail and the situation continues to deteriorate.
Meanwhile the UK will continue working with the National Coalition, the legitimate opposition, to build its credibility and effectiveness.
The Coalition has committed to represent the diversity of Syria through its membership. It is time for the Coalition to deliver on that promise.
We will push the Coalition to settle its internal politics quickly and transparently in order to focus on the bigger issues: its political strategy, its game-plan for Geneva II and establishing a functioning authority inside Syria.
We will continue to provide practical, non-lethal support to the moderate opposition. The UK has already provided over £12 million in such support to the Syrian opposition, civil society and human rights defenders. This money has also enabled the National Coalition to develop structures that will allow it to function more effectively on the ground in Syria.
We agree with Sweden that a political solution is the only durable answer. That is the focus now.