BBC, 13 Nov 2012 – France has become the first Western power to recognise Syria’s opposition coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
The move was announced by President Francois Hollande at a televised news conference in Paris.
Syrian opposition groups struck a deal in the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday to form a broad coalition to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
It came after 20 months of an uprising against his rule.
“I announce today that France recognises the Syrian national coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people and as future government of a democratic Syria, allowing it to bring an end to Bashar al-Assad’s regime,” Mr Hollande told reporters.
BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher says Mr Hollande’s announcement is a clear sign that the West is now pinning its hopes on the Syrian opposition finally being able to offer a united and effective alternative to President Assad.
The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces has been calling on European nations to recognise it as the country’s transitional government, enabling it to buy weapons to assist its attempts to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
Mr Hollande said France would look at the question of arming the coalition.
“On the question of weapons deliveries, France did not support it as long as it wasn’t clear where these weapons went,” he said.
“With the coalition, as soon as it is a legitimate government of Syria, this question will be looked at by France, but also by all countries that recognise this government.”
Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague described the coalition as a milestone, but stopped short of full recognition, saying it still had to prove itself.
On Monday, Gulf Arab states declared it to be the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.