Syrian Opposition Presses US to Send Arms Fast, Kerry: No Military Solution to Crisis

Local Editor

Syrian opposition leaders on their three-day visit to the US urged Washington to get a move on with sending promised arms to the rebels. This comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry declared there's no military solution to the crisis.

A delegation representing the so-called "Syrian National Coalition", headed by its newly-elected leader Ahmed Jarba, met with John Kerry on Thursday at the US mission to the United Nations in New York.

The statement Jarba issued following the closed-door talks described the situation in Syria as "desperate" and urged the US to start delivering on its military aid promise as soon as possible.

"The US commitment of military support to the Supreme Military Council is vital, but it needs to happen fast," Jarba said.
The House and Senate Intelligence Committees have recently given a green light to arm Syrian rebels, declaring they had their concerns alleviated.
Despite the congressional approval of weapons supplies, John Kerry was cautious speaking of the Syrian crisis on Thursday, pledging commitment to its peaceful settlement.

"There is no military solution to Syria. There is only a political solution, and that will require leadership in order to bring people to the table," John Kerry said.
It is worth mentioning that Jabra and his three colleagues are to hold an informal meeting with the 15-member UN Security Council.

"The meeting is not a sign of the UN official recognition of the SNC," Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin has warned.
"The aim of this event should be to encourage the National Coalition and its leadership to prepare for Geneva II," he said as cited by RIA Novosti. "It's an informal event, it's not even a UN Security Council event. The fact that this meeting takes place should not be viewed as a step towards the National Coalition's recognition in any official role."

"Washington's decision to arm the terrorist groups in Syria proves that the United States [wants to] exacerbate the crisis in Syria, and shows up its dishonesty in the search for a political solution at a [proposed peace] conference in Geneva," a Syrian Foreign Ministry official said in a statement.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team