France says UN support for Syria no-fly zone unlikely

PanARMENIAN.Net - France said on Friday, June 14 that it was unlikely for now that a no-fly zone would be established over Syria because of opposition from some members of the UN Security Council, Reuters reported.

Western diplomats say the United States is considering imposing a no-fly zone close to Syria's southern border with Jordan.

"The problem with this type of measure is that it can only be put in place with approval from the international community," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot told journalists.

"A decision from the United Nations Security Council is needed, and not just any decision," he said. A Chapter 7 resolution authorizing military action was needed, and that was unlikely to be passed, he added.

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can count on Moscow to block any such resolution if it were to be brought to a vote.

U.S. President Barack Obama's administration said on Thursday that it was ready to arm Syrian rebels after having obtained proof that the government had used chemical weapons against the fighters seeking to oust Assad.

Lalliot said France had yet to make a decision on arming rebels, but that all these issues would be discussed among heads of state at next week's G8 summit.

Apart from arming the rebels, France could also extend further help to them in the form of sharing more intelligence, providing training and planning operations, Lalliot added.

He declined to say whether that meant French military advisers would be on the ground in Syria, although diplomatic sources have indicated some are already operating in Turkey and Jordan.