EU not ready to officially recognise Syrian National Council

The EU is not ready for official recognition of the Syrian National Council, ITAR-TASS reports an EU diplomatic source as saying.

He also added that EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg and passed a declaration on the council. Formation of the Syrian National Council would benefit the opposition and form a common platform for democratic reforms in the country. The EU declaration also contains Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s traditional statement to resign and start reforms.

The Syrian National Council was formed in Istanbul in September. However, the EU has no authority to recognise states and organizations.

France plans to establish its own contacts with the Syrian opposition, bypassing the EU links, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in Luxembourg today, RIA Novosti reports.

Official recognition of the National Transitional Council of Libya in February was one of the main pre-conditions for NATO’s military operation.