BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union nations struggled Monday to overcome deep divisions on whether to ease sanctions against Syria to allow arms shipments to rebels fighting President Bashar Assad's regime.
Britain is the most outspoken proponent of relaxing the arms embargo but faces strong opposition from EU members like Austria who feel that more weapons will only increase the killings and tarnish the EU's reputation as a peace broker.
The EU foreign ministers meeting Monday in Brussels were facing a Friday deadline when the current arms embargo against Syria expires. If no new deal is found, each nation can independently decide if they want to arm the rebels.
More than 70,000 people have died since the uprising against Assad erupted in March 2011. Assad has been using extensive firepower against lightly armed rebel factions.
Austria's foreign minister said Monday if there is no agreement the arms embargo will collapse.
"The positions are far apart," said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, adding it was not clear if the ministers will reach a deal Monday.
The EU nations have been steadfast opponents of Assad in the conflict and have steadily increased the restrictive measures against his regime, including visa restrictions and economic sanctions. In February, the 27-nation bloc also amended the arms embargo to allow for non-lethal equipment and medicine to protect Syrian civilians. If not renewed, all those measures expire at the end of May.
Meanwhile, Assad's government has agreed in principle to participate in peace talks in Geneva next month. The United States and Russia hope to bring together the Syrian government and opposition for direct talks, but the exact date, agenda and list of participants for the conference remains unclear.
EU nations were looking at a compromise to create more pressure on Assad by threatening a limited arming of the opposition in the coming months, an EU official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because she was not allowed to discuss ongoing EU discussions on the record.
Several nations say arming the opposition would create a level playing field that could force Assad into a negotiated settlement.
"It is important to show we are prepared to amend our arms embargo so that the Assad regime gets a clear signal that it has to negotiate seriously," said British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Austria argued that sending more weapons into the Syrian war zone would only acerbate an already horrific situation.
"We just received the Nobel Peace Prize and to now go in the direction of intentionally getting involved in a conflict with weapon deliveries, I think that is wrong," Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said.
But he also was not happy about just letting the sanctions against Syria expire.
"If there is no compromise, then there is no sanctions regime," said Spindelegger. "In my view that would be fatal, also for those who now absolutely want to deliver weapons."
Hague insisted however that standing still was no option and that the moderate opposition needed to be boosted.
"Most of the world denies them the means to defend themselves, so that is creating extremism radicalizing people. We are reaching the limits of how long we can go on with that situation," Hague said.
In that sense, there were bigger issues involved than EU unity, he said.
"It is important to be doing the right thing for Syria. That is more important than whether the EU is able to stick together on every detail on this," Hague said.
There were also fears that delivering weapons to the opposition would open the way for extremist groups to get hold of weapons.
Despite the apparent incompatibility of views, diplomats still held out hope for a common stand sometime before the embargo expires.
"Disagreement in the EU, that would be the wrong signal," said Westerwelle. "The more cohesive Europe acts, the more influence we will have on overcoming the current violence in Syria."