Hague meets Syrian opposition in London

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Monday that the British Government was "very concerned about the continuing violence, the continued actions of the Syrian regime in killing many of their own people, committing by all accounts terrible torture and abuse." Hague met with members of the Syrian opposition, both from the Syrian National Council and from the National Coordination Body as well as independents. "Of course we want to step up the international pressure on the Assad regime...that pressure takes many different forms. In the European Union, we have adopted strong sanctions already including a ban on the import of Syrian crude oil in to the European Union, that's 90 per cent of Syrian crude oil, as well as many other sanctions, travel bans and asset freezes on particular individuals and entities. We're working with our European partners to add further to those sanctions in the coming days and weeks. "It also includes debating the matter in the United Nations General Assembly, specifically in the third committee of the General Assembly, the Human Rights Committee, which we will be doing this week and sponsoring a resolution on Syria. We remain disappointed of course that at the United Nations Security Council in early October the resolution which we sponsored was vetoed by Russia and China which I continue to believe was a great mistake on their part, particularly in the light of recent events and I hope that we can return to the matter in the future at the United Nations Security Council. The foreign secretary also stated that he was working closely with the Arab League. "The members of the opposition have described to me some of the grave abuses and loss of life taking place in Syria. I have of course expressed the view we've held since the summer that the Assad regime should go, that is the best thing for the future of Syria. But I've also emphasised the importance to them of achieving a united platform and a unified body among the opposition. At an extreme moment in their nation's history it is important for opposition groups to be able to put aside their own differences and come to a united view of the way forward. "I've also emphasised to them the importance of non violent protest and the importance of retaining international support in this situation through non violent protest. And finally I've emphasised to them the importance of respecting the rights of minorities. Syria is a complex country. I've emphasised that democracy means not only holding elections in the future, but entrenching human rights including the rights of minorities in Syria and that will give reassurance both within Syria and to people who wish the Syrian people well all over the world," he said of the opposition's efforts towards reform in Syria. Hague stated that the UK would continue its contact withthe Syrian opposition, and mentioned the appointment of a senior liaison. "The message for the regime is that the rest of the world is talking to the Syrian opposition, that we are looking to a different future for Syria, for the Syrian people to decide for themselves what, what we want is what so many people in Syria want, a free and democratic future for the people of Syria," he concluded. The Foreign Secretary met a variety of opposition groups including members of the SNC, the NCB and several independents these include: Burhan Ghalioum, Chairman of the SNC, Ausama Monajed, Nibras al-Fadel, Haytham Manna, European representative for the NCB, Khalaf Dahowd and Rami Abdel Rahman.