The arms embargo against Syria? Croatia took their time
(BRUSSELS2) It was only on February 21 - according to information collected by B2 - that Croatia decided to follow the sanctions adopted by the European Union in November against Syria. A very late adoption for a country which is not only a member but already present - as an observer - in all European structures. Its representatives thus participate in all decision-making - whether at the level of ministers (Council of the EU), ambassadors (Coreper and Cops) or experts (working groups).
A time used
Technically, Croatia was therefore not required until February 22 (the date when the decision was published in the Official Gazette) to respect the arms embargo. This enabled it - if the information from several bloggers relayed by the New York Times is correct - to deliver batches of weapons in stock without firing a shot in several regions of Syria at the end of the year and at the beginning of January. of weapons. According to Croatian newspapers, as Jutarnji list, several Jordanian cargo planes were seen at the Croatian airport of Pleso (Zaghreb) in early January. These weapons had not previously been seen in the conflict: M60 recoilless rifles, Osa M79 anti-tank rocket launchers (made in the former Yugoslavia), RPG-22s, Milkor MGL/RBG grenade launchers -6. And they have been used by rebel forces, secular or religious moderates (except those of Jabhat al-Nusra), to take over certain quarters.
Just return to sender?
These weapons come from stocks held in Croatia, dating from the war in the former Yugoslavia. But not declared. And for good reason ! These weapons had finally landed, at the time, in Croatia to defend themselves against the Serbs and ensure the reconquest of certain territories. And, already, to deliver them the arms embargo (imposed there again by Europeans) had been circumvented. At least, here, formally, the rule will have been held, even if it is at the cost of a subtle legal artifice.
