The current embargo includes the following:
- Ban on export/import of arms and equipment for internal repression since May 2011
- "Non-lethal military equipment" ( there exists no such thing- all military equipment can become lethal in one way or another-ed) and technical assistance allowed under certain conditions since Feb 2013
- All Syrian cargo planes banned from EU airports
- EU states obliged to inspect Syria-bound ships or planes suspected of carrying arms
- Assets freeze on 54 groups and 179 people responsible for or involved in repression (many who are not involved in decision making and have no assets abroad are included-ed)
- Export ban on technical monitoring equipment
In February this year, EU foreign ministers agreed to enable any EU member state to provide non-lethal military equipment "for the protection of civilians" or for the opposition forces, " which the Union accepts as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people ".
Absence of a centralized command structure and massive human rights abuses by jihadist fighters are additional reasons for the current alarm.
As is its habit recently, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic service, has spoken on both sides of this critical issue. On the one hand it has cautioned against "any counterproductive move" that could harm the prospects of the Geneva conference and suggests extending the embargo to allow "more time for reflection". On the other suggesting that lifting the arms embargo would only prolong the war.
The practice of targeting a civilian population by outsiders in order to achieve political objectives such as regime change is fast heading for the dustbin of history given its blatant violation of all norms of international humanitarian law and common decency reflected in the values most societies.
This week will reveal on which side of history the European Union will anchor itself on the issue of targeting civilian populations in a blatant attempt to achieve regime change.
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