Representatives from 11 Arab and Western countries, known as the London 11 Core Group of the Friends of Syria, met recently in London.The group, which supports the moderate Syrian opposition,issued a communique announcing that through a coordinated strategy it would take steps to increase its support of the Syrian Opposition Coalition,the Supreme Military Council, and associated moderate armed groups.The group also denounced the Assad regime's unilateral plan to hold illegitimate presidential elections on June 3.At a press briefing after the meeting, Secretary of State John Kerry said that to help the moderate opposition in Syria every facet of what can be done,is going to be ramped up-every facet-and that includes political effort.It includes the aid to the opposition.It includes economic efforts, sanctions:There will be a ramped up effort to make it clear that despite the fact that Assad may think today he's doing betterand this process is somehow going to come to a close with him sitting pretty, the answer is no…We're not going away.The opposition is not going away. We are determined to reach a political settlement that protects all of the people of Syria.Mr. Kerry noted that the United States has been frustrated with the current process of trying to get humanitarian aid to Syrians in desperate need,and that the Friends of Syria group is working to find new avenues to reach the people, some of whom have been under siege by Assad's forces and were being starved to death.
