Assad: support for rebels brings terrorism to EU

17 June 2013

BERLIN: Syria’s president is quoted as telling a German newspaper that Europe will “pay the price” if it delivers arms to rebels fighting his government.

Bashar Assad told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in an interview published Monday that arming the rebels will backfire because “terrorists will return to Europe with fighting experience and extremist ideologies.”

The European Union is not renewing a strict weapons embargo against Syria, opening the door for some members of the 27-nation bloc like France or Britain to arm the rebels. The German government opposes such a move and the interview appeared aimed at reinforcing German skepticism.

President Barack Obama last week authorized weapons and ammunition shipments to the rebels.