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\f0\b\fs24 \cf2 \cb3 BY STEVEN SPARKMAN\ ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS
\b0 \ \
The new Syrian rebel coalition picked up some much-sought European support Tuesday.\
\ French president Francois Hollande announced
his country recognizes the coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people,
making France the first European country to take that step. ({\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.france24.com/en/20121113-france-hollande-recognises-new-syrian-opposition-coalition-press-conference"}}{\fldrslt \cf4 \ul \ulc4 Video via France 24}})\
\ Hollande called the coalition the \'93future
government\'94 of Syria. {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/20121113174633204988.html"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 \ul \ulc4 An Al Jazeera correspondent}} explains why France\'92s announcement is a
big deal for the coalition.\ \
\b \'93This is an important boost for the Syrian National Council who have been calling
on European countries for recognition because recognition would allow them to buy arms.\'94
\b0 \ \
Hollande said now that France recognizes the opposition, the question of whether France
can supply them with weapons could be reconsidered. But {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20319787"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 \ul \ulc4 a BBC correspondent}} says don\'92t expect rapid change in the country.\
\b \'93The president's remarks on reconsidering arms deliveries need to be treated with caution.
Nothing will happen quickly, not least because France is bound by an EU embargo on arms deliveries
to all sides in the Syrian conflict.\'94 \b0 \
\ There\'92s some speculation France might try
to lead the U.S. into taking a stronger role in Syria like they did last year in Libya.
But {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.c-span.org/Events/Washington-Journal-for-Tuesday-November-13/10737435793/"}}{\fldrslt \cf4 \ul \ulc4 Foreign Policy Magazine\'92s
senior editor told C-SPAN}} the U.S. is much more cautious with Syria.\
\b \'93I think the rest of the U.S. allies, Turkey, they\'92re afraid of getting involved
in this conflict. \'85 There is a fear that it could widen and inflame the region and
I think there\'92s a degree of caution.\'94 \b0 \
\ Several Gulf states have also recognized the
coalition, but Russia and China both reiterated their calls for Syria\'92s problems to be
settled internally.\cb1 \ }