Poland, Belgium Voice Doubts about Syria Military Intervention
Poland on Wednesday voiced reservations about military action in Syria, in a rare departure from toeing the same line as the United States.
"I'm not convinced that an armed attack will stop the crimes," Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters.
"I understand the reasoning, but I don't share the belief and enthusiasm of those who think that such an operation could bring about positive effects."
Tusk's announcement that Poland does not plan to take part in a military intervention came as the United States and allies press their case for such action against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime -- despite stern warnings from Syrian allies Russia and Iran.
The U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, meanwhile confirmed that "some kind of substance" was used in an August 21 attack in the war-torn country, killing hundreds of people.
Poland was a major contributor of troops for the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it still maintains 1,600 soldiers.
But its president said earlier this month that the EU member would limit its participation in overseas military missions and concentrate on modernizing its forces at home.
"The consistent policy of sending Polish soldiers to the other side of the world is over," President Bronislaw Komorowski said at a mid-month military parade.
In April, Komorowski approved funds for a Polish missile shield program from next year until 2023 to "send an important signal to all that Poland has its own means of defense".
Meanwhile, Belgium, which joined military action in Libya and in Mali, said it is "not yet convinced" of the merits of intervening in Syria and wants proof that Damascus used chemical weapons against its people.
"I am not yet convinced. What we want is to receive information showing the use of these arms," Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said Wednesday in an interview on state broadcaster RTBF.
Belgium hopes for such information from the United Nations, "but should France, the United States and Britain have information on this subject, they could share it with their NATO allies," he said.
While condemning the use of chemical arms as "odious", Reynders highlighted the risks of a military riposte.
"What would be the consequences in Syria and in the region? What would be the consequences of acting without the consent of the UN Security Council? For tomorrow Russia too could decide to intervene without consent if others do," he said.
He spoke as Britain pushed for a U.N. resolution to pave the way for military strikes over suspected chemical attacks despite stern warnings against intervention from key Damascus supporters Russia and Iran.
Earlier Wednesday, former Belgian premier and leader of the liberal group in the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, called for an emergency meeting on Syria of European Union foreign ministers.
But a spokesman for EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said that "at this stage" the next meeting of the ministers is still set for September 6 and 7 in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
While Britain and France appear ready to intervene militarily against the Syrian regime following last week's apparent chemical weapons attack, Germany, Italy and Poland appear reticent.
Source: Agence France Presse
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