Paris Welcomes Arab Protocol on Syria

PARIS (NNN-KUNA): France has welcomed a resolution reached by Arab foreign ministers in Rabat on Wednesday, giving Damascus only three days to sign a protocol aiming to send Arab observers to Syria.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said here Thursday his country fully supports efforts by the Arab League to resolve the situation in Syria.

He reiterated his country's call on the Syrian government to meet the demands of the Arab League and international community for stopping violance against protesters and fulfilling the Syrian people's demands.

Earlier on Wednesday, Arab foreign ministers had agreed to a draft protocol aiming to send Arab observers to Syria.

The Arab League sent the draft agreement on observers to the Syrian government on Wednesday, according to a statement released following a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers, held here on the sidelines of a just-concluded Arab-Turkish cooperation forum.

The task of the mission is to verify Syria's implementation of an Arab plan designed to resolve the situation in Syria, it added.

They also gave Syria three days to sign this protocol, it pointed out.

The AL had decided to suspend Syria's membership, to take effect Wednesday, and then called on its members to withdraw ambassadors and impose sanctions on Damascus until it implements the peace plan.

As per plan, Syria would stop the deadly crackdown on civilian protesters and withdraw military vehicles from cities, release detainees and hold a dialogue with the opposition. -NNN-KUNA