William Hague delivered a stark warning to Syria's regime, saying that President Bashar al-Assad must obey a new peace plan or else other countries would arm the rebel movement.
William Hague delivered a stark warning to Syria's regime on Sunday, saying that President Bashar al-Assad must obey a new peace plan or else other countries would arm the rebel movement.
The Foreign Secretary said the realitywas that some governments - although not Britain's - would supply weapons to Assad's enemies if this best hope for peace failed.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Assad's leading Arab critics, have publicly favoured arming the opposition. They joined 82 countries and international organisations in Istanbul for the second meeting of the 'Friends of Syria' group.
The aim of the gathering, convened by Turkey, was to increase pressure on Assad and rally support for the six-point peace plan devised by Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general.
This proposes a ceasefire monitored by UN observers followed by Syrian-led negotiations to settle the crisis, with free access for aid agencies and the media. Crucially, Annan's plan stops short of demanding Assad's resignation.
Syria's regime accepted the proposals last Tuesday, but Assad has yet to order a ceasefire or withdraw troops and tanks from urban areas. On the contrary, the bloodshed has continued with dozens more said to have been killed yesterday.
The Foreign Secretary said that the regime must now obey the Annan plan, which was the best hope of a peaceful transition, or face the consequences.
"What some countries are saying is: 'If the Annan process does not work, we are going to have to look at arming the opposition'. At least, that's how I understand their position and that's what I think the reality is," said Hague.
Britain is bound by a European Union arms embargo on Syria and will only supply non-lethal equipment, he added.
The conference saw early steps towards building the capabilities of Assad's enemies.
Burhan Ghalioun, leader of the Syrian National Council, the main opposition alliance, was invited to address the gathering and urged the creation of "safe zones" in the country guarded by rebels from the Free Syrian Army. The SNC also said that it would pay the salaries of guerrilla fighters, blurring the distinction between armed and civilian opposition.
Ghalioun also appeared to rule out a peaceful settlement under the Annan plan, saying: "The international community should see that there is no political reconciliation with the regime in Syria." The opposition, which has suffered serious military defeats in the past month, is deeply reluctant to open talks with Assad. The regime, meanwhile, is suspected of endorsing the Annan plan merely as a ruse to buy time.
Hague made clear that he was alert to this danger, stressing that the peace plan "cannot be an indefinite process".
His words were echoed by Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, who noted Assad's failure to observe an Arab League peace plan last year. The regime's attitude towards the latest proposals showed that it was adding to its long list of broken promises, she said, adding that America was already supplying the civilian opposition with non-lethal equipment, notably for communications.
For Britain, America and France, a plan B in the event of the failure of the Annan mission would be to return to the Security Council and seek a UN resolution to escalate the pressure on Assad, hoping to win over Russia and China.
But others, notably Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are probably preparing more direct steps. Yesterday, an official Syrian newspaper accused Saudi Arabia of plotting to arm the terrorists, encourage the bloodbath and destroy infrastructure.
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