EU arms embargo on Syria should not be amended, say peace groups

Groups organised in the European Network Against Arms Trade (ENAAT) strongly oppose any moves to amend the current EU arms embargo on Syria as supported by the United Kingdom (UK). A proposal to do so, to enable military equipment to be sent to anti-Assad groups, will be presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers by the UK on Thursday 31 January.

Syria is already awash with weaponry. Any further weaponry would most likely prolong the conflict and reduce the chances of a peaceful outcome. The anti-Assad groups are largely an unknown quantity, consisting of many different groups, including those of a highly sectarian nature. Supplying arms to any group will increase future instability.

Moreover, sending more arms to the region will have long-term consequences, as arms do not go away after the conflict but might turn up with other groups in Syria or in surrounding countries, as demonstrated by the Libyan arms now being used in Mali.

Instead of easing the arms embargo the EU should place pressure on Russia and other supplier countries to stop supplying weapons to the Syrian government, and ensure no weaponry supplied to third countries, such as Saudi Arabia, is sent on to any faction within Syria.

Signed by:

• Aktion Aufschrei – Stoppt den Waffenhandel!, Germany – Christine Hoffmann
• Bremen Foundation for arms conversion and peace research, Germany – Andrea Kolling
• Campagne tegen Wapenhandel, The Netherlands – Wendela de Vries
• Campaign Against Arms Trade, UK – Kaye Stearman
• Centre d’Estudis per a la Pau JM Delàs (Justícia i Pau) Spain – Jordi Calvo Rufanges
• Gruppe Schweiz ohne Armee (GSoA) / Groupe pour une Suisse sans armée (GSsA) – Adi Feller
• Norwegian Peace Association– Hannah Eline Ander
• Rete Italiana per il Disarmo, Italy – Giorgio Beretta
• Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society – Anna Ek, president
• Vredesactie , Belgium – Roel Stynen

ENDS

Notes

1. European Network Against Arms Trade (ENAAT) is a grouping of European anti-arms trade organisations, including Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) in the UK.
2. Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) works to end the international arms trade. The arms business has a devastating impact on human rights and society and damages economic development. Large-scale military procurement and arms exports only reinforce a militaristic approach to international problems. In 2012, CAAT was awarded a Right Livelihood Award, the alternative Nobel Prize for its innovative and effective campaigning against the arms trade.
3. Read CAAT’s full statement on arms sales to Syria.