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International recognition of the Syrian National Council

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International recognition of the Syrian National Council or SNC,[1] is minimal with the council being recognised by five UN members in the midst of the 2011 Syrian uprising, with two of those being permanent members of the Security Council.

International standing and recognition

The Syrian National Council has asked for recognition within the international community, but it also denies that it seeks to play the role of a government-in-exile.[2]

As of 21 January 2012, the Syrian National Council is currently recognised or supported in some capacity by 12 UN member states, with two of those being permanent members of the Security Council, France[3], the United States[4], Spain, Bulgaria, Tunisia, and also Libya's National Transitional Council,[5] who announced that it had been in talks with the Syrian National Council and is considering to give weapons, volunteer fighters, and training via National Liberation Army to the Free Syrian Army.[6] Belguim, Canada, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, and Turkey do not yet recognise the council to be at least a partner in dialogue, although the council has obtained unofficial support, and has received support of the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.[7] The Foreign Ministers of Portugal, Russia, and Norway have met with representatives of the council, but have yet to recognise or support it officially in any capacity nor have they rejected the Assad government.

Map of states that have recognised the Syrian National Council
  Syria
  States that have diplomatically recognised SNC as the sole legitimate government of Syria
  States that have official support/recognition for SNC as partner for dialogue
  States that have unofficial support for SNC as partner for dialogue
  States with informal relations with the SNC
  States that have not supported Syrian National Council yet

UN member states

Rank Entity Date/Status of recognition Notes
1  Libya[5] Recognised on 19 October 2011
(as legitimate authority)		 "The National Transitional Council has decided after a meeting today to recognise the Syrian National Council as the sole legitimate government in Syria," NTC member Mussa al-Koni said on 10 October. Koni also announced the closure of the Syrian Embassy in Tripoli.[5] On 19 October, the NTC formally announced its recognition of the SNC as Syria's "legitimate authority".[8] The NTC promised the representatives of SNC to hand them over the embassy of Syria in Tripoli.[9]

The Libyan NTC also announced that it had been in talks with the Syrian National Council and was considering supplying weapons and volunteer fighters of the National Liberation Army to the Free Syrian Army.[10]

2  France[11] Recognised on 21 November 2011
(as legitimate interlocutor)		 "The Syrian National Council is the legitimate interlocutor with which we will continue to work," French foreign minister Alain Juppe stated on November 21, 2011.
3  Spain[12][13] Recognised on 23 November 2011
(as representative of Syrian people)		 Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiménez confirmed that the Spanish government will look to SNC to discuss issues concerning Syria, and that the channels of dialogue with the Syrian regime have been closed. Jiménez said "Spain support for the SNC as the main interlocutor of the Syrian people, who are seeking freedom and democracy".
4  United States[14] Recognised on 5 December 2011
(as legitimate representative)		 The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, deemed the Syrian National Council as an “leading and legitimate representative of Syrians seeking a peaceful democratic transition,” and that the United States was “committed to helping . . . make this transition.”[15]
 Turkey[7] Rejection of Assad government[7]
Formal relations from 14 December[16]
Verbal Support		 On 15 November 2011, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, has expressed his support for the Syrian National Council, saying that "Turkey had lost confidence in the leadership of Bashar al-Assad," and that "the Syrian leader will pay the price sooner or later"[7]. On 14 December 2011, SNC opened it's first office in Istanbul.[16]
 Tunisia Verbal recognition by strongest political party on 2 November [17]
Rejection of Assad government[17]
Informal relations
Verbal support & statement of future recognition		 Rashid al-Ghannushi, president of Ennahda Movement, Tunisia's largest party stated on 2nd of November that SNC is the legitimate representative of Syria, at the same time he closed Syrian embassy in Tunis and ousted Syrian ambassador.[17] On 16th of December, SNC hold three-day congress (its first international congress) in Tunis where Tunisia's newly-elected president, Moncef Marzouki, participated in the talks and had a press conference with SNC's president Burhan Ghalioun.[18][19] On 19th of December Burhan Ghalioun announced that the new Tunisian government will officially recognise the Council.[20]
 United Kingdom Verbal support
Rejection of Assad government
Informal relations
Intensifying contacts		 Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt met SNC members in Paris on 12 October 2011. Burt stated, “The establishment of the Syrian National Council marked a positive step in bringing together a broad range of Syrian opposition representatives."[21] The following month, Foreign Secretary William Hague met with representatives of the SNC and National Coordination Body on 21 November. Speaking about the meeting, Hague remarked, “We will continue our contacts with the Syrian opposition. I’ve appointed a senior official to lead our liaison and coordination with them... 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. And I think the Assad regime will find that more and more Governments around the world are willing to work with the opposition to step up the level of their contacts as we have done today as part of the increasing pressure on this regime and its completely unacceptable behaviour.”[22]
 Italy Informal relations [23][24]
Verbal support
Rejection of Assad government		 On 25th of November Italian Foreign Minister, Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata reiterated Italy's support to "organised opposition" in the shape of SNC.[23] On 11th of December, Terzi met SNC's president Burhan Ghalioun and said Italy would intensify its contacts with SNC which grouped "an important segment" of the Syrian opposition.
 Bulgaria[25] Verbal support
Rejection of Assad government
Informal relations		 Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov announced that the Syrian National Council "is an important partner in dialogue on the future of Syria".
 Canada[26] Rejection of Assad government
Informal relations
Discussions on future assistance		 Foreign Minister John Baird, in a 16 December speech in the House of Commons stated, ""Assad will fall. The government will fall. It's only a matter of time". Later that day, Baird met with a Syrian National Council delegation led by Council President Burhan Ghalioun. The council expressed its gratitude for Canada's assistance to the SNC, including international lobbying for new UN Security Council resolutions and it's rejection of the Assad government. Discussions were held on Canada's participation in humanitarian assistance during a transitional period and in the rebuilding of a post-Assad Syria.[27]
 Netherlands Verbal support
Rejection of Assad government
Informal relations		 Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal met with Burhan Ghalioun, the leader of the Syrian National Council on 17 January 2012. Rosenthal has pledged to continue to increase pressure on the Assad government, specifically by promoting EU sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions toward this end. Rosenthal further stated, "It’s time for this to stop: Assad must step down and make way for a democratic Syria."[28] He went on to praise the courage of the Syrian demonstrators and the SNC's role in "representing Syrian issues at an international level.[29]"
 Germany Verbal support
Rejection of Assad government
discussions on future assistance
Informal relations		 In a 6 August 2011 interview, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle remarked that "I don't believe that Assad has a political future ahead of him which is supported by the Syrian people". The German foreign ministry is reportedly in talks with the Syrian opposition. [30] In November 2011, a Syrian National Council delegation met with Westerwelle and other high level foreign policy decision makers to brief them on developments in Syria. Westerwelle said "we cannot remain quiet to the human rights violations in Syria.” He then lauded the efforts of the National Council and discussed future cooperation with the SNC regarding the transition phase to democracy. [31]
 Belgium[32] Verbal support
Informal relations		 A group of Belgian Foreign Ministry officials, headed by Foreign Minister Didier Reynders met with a delegation of the Syrian National Council on 5 January 2012. At the meeting, Reynders informed the delegates that he would to refer the SNC requests for the establishment of an European assistance fund for the Syrian people to the European Union, and would work to "support the SNC's goals until they become a reality on the ground."
 Portugal[33] Informal relations A Syrian National Council delegation, headed by Burhan Ghalioun, met on 3 January , 2012 with Foreign Minister Paulo Portas in Lisbon. After a briefing on the current situation in Syria, Portas was requested by the delegation to formally reject the Assad regime, and to use Portugal's influence with Brazil to get the South American country to do the same.
 Norway[34] Informal relations A Syrian National Council delegation visited Oslo and met with foreign ministry officials, along with political, and humanitarian groups to promote its cause from 9-11 December 2012. The council delegation met with the foreign minister, whom had a reaction to their requests that the delegation reported as "generally positive."
 Russia[35] Informal relations The Syrian National Council sent a delegation to Moscow to meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on 15 November 2011 in response to an official invitation. While in Moscow, the council met with high level Russian government officials, notably the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Mikhail Bogdanov; and the Vice Chairman of the Russian Federation, Ilyas Umakhanov.

Autonomous regions

International organisations

Political parties and legislatures

See Also

References

  1. ^ CNN Wire Staff (23 August 2011). "Syrian activists form a 'national council'". CNN. Retrieved 24 August 2011. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "Syrian council wants recognition as voice of opposition". Reuters. 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
  3. ^ Andrew Rettman (24 October 2011). "France recognises Syrian council, proposes military intervention". EUObserwer. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  4. ^ "Clinton to Syrian opposition: Ousting al-Assad is only first step in transition". CNN. December 6, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c "Libya NTC says recognises Syrian National Council". Khaleej Times. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  6. ^ . Sydney Morning Herald. November 27 2011 http://www.smh.com.au/world/libya-to-arm-rebels-in-syria-20111126-1o088.html. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  7. ^ a b c d Jaffe, Greg (November 15, 2011). "Turkish PM: Lost Confidence in Syrian Leadership". Voice of America. Cite error: The named reference "turkpm" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Jaffe, Greg (19 October 2011). "New Libyan government recognizes Syrian opposition council". The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  9. ^ İpek Yezdani (20 October 2011). "Syria dissidents secure Libya embassy promise". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  10. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/world/libya-to-arm-rebels-in-syria-20111126-1o088.html%7Cname = Libya to arm syrian rebels| access date = November 27 2011| date = November 27 2011| agency = Sydney Morning Herald
  11. ^ Andrew Rettman (24 October 2011). "France recognises Syrian council, proposes military intervention". EUObserwer. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  12. ^ "Spain considered Syrian National Council, representative for the dialogue with the Syrian people". LCC Syria. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  13. ^ "Spain Considers the SNC the Representative of the Syrian People". Syrian National Council. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  14. ^ "Clinton to Syrian opposition: Ousting al-Assad is only first step in transition". CNN. December 6, 2011.
  15. ^ "Clinton meets with Syria opposition". Washington Post. December 6, 2011.
  16. ^ a b "Syria's opposition opens office in Turkey". Al Jazeera. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  17. ^ a b c "تونس تؤيد المجلس الوطني السوري باعتباره ممثلا شرعيا". RT News. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  18. ^ "Moncef Marzouki appelle à l'attachement au caractère pacifique de la révolution syrienne". Agence Tunis Afrique Presse. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  19. ^ "Syrian National Council Holds First Congress in Tunis". Tunisia Live. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  20. ^ "Tunisian Government to Recognize Syrian Political Opposition". Tunisia Live. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  21. ^ "Foreign Office Minister meets Syrian National Council members". UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  22. ^ "Foreign Secretary meets Syrian opposition". UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  23. ^ a b "Syria: Terzi, Italy support for organised opposition". ansamed.info. 25 Nov 2011.
  24. ^ "Italy seeks tougher sanctions against Syrian regime -- FM". Kuwait News Agency. 25 Nov 2011.
  25. ^ "UN Human Rights Council strongly condemns abuses by Syrian authorities". Sofia Echo. 03 December 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ "Canada imposing further sanctions on Syria". Canadian Broadcasting Company. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  27. ^ "SNC Delegation Meets Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs". Syrian National Council. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  28. ^ "Rosenthal meets with Syrian opposition leader". Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  29. ^ "The Netherlands Confirms to the SNC that it will Maintain Pressure on the Syrian Regime". Syrian National Council. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  30. ^ "Syria Aug 6, 2011 -16:18". Al Jazeera. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
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  33. ^ "SNC Meets with the Foreign Minister of Portugal". Syrian National Council. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  34. ^ "SNC Delegation Meets Norwegian Foreign Ministry". Syrian National Council. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  35. ^ "SNC Delegation Meets with the foreign ministers of Germany and Russia". Syrian National Council. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  36. ^ Syrian National Council (16 January 2012). ""SNC Delegation Visits the Kurdistan Region in Iraq"". Retrieved 22 January 2012.
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