Belgium Offers to Host Syria Opposition Office

Belgium on Wednesday offered to host an office of Syria's opposition National Coalition in Brussels, headquarters of both the European Union and NATO.

Speaking from Morocco where he was attending a meeting of the Friends of Syria group, Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told the national Belga news agency that "I have proposed to the (Syrian) coalition that it organise a representation in Brussels."

This would not lead to the closure of the Syrian embassy, which represents President Bashar Assad's regime, but would enable the opening of "a second office," a Belgian source said on condition of anonymity.

The opening of such an office could "logistically facilitate" contacts between opponents of the Assad regime and EU and NATO institutions, the source added.