Brussels, 23/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - As we announced (EUROPE 10381), the Foreign Affairs Council of Monday 23 May decided to extend European sanctions in place - visa ban and freezing of assets - to a further 10 Syrian senior figures, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad himself. The detailed list of people affected will be published in the Official Journal on Tuesday 24 May. These 10 individuals come in addition to the 13 key figures of the Syrian regime (including a brother of the president and several cousins) already affected by the sanctions since 10 May. In conclusions adopted on Monday, the Foreign Affairs Council calls on the Syrian authorities to “respond to the legitimate demands of the Syrian people by launching an inclusive and genuine national dialogue and by implementing without delay and through a concrete timetable, meaningful political reforms”. “This is the only way to initiate a peaceful transition to democracy and provide stability for Syria in the long term”, the ministers stress. Should President Bashar al-Assad refuse to commit to this course of action, the sanctions may be tightened up even further, the EU27 warn. “The EU is determined to take further measures without delay should the Syrian leadership choose not to change swiftly its current path”. EUROPE notes that the EU has already suspended all bilateral programmes in place with the Syrian authorities in the framework of the European neighbourhood and partnership instrument (ENPI) and MEDA. All preparations for new bilateral cooperation programmes have also been frozen. The member states are called upon to review their bilateral cooperation with Damascus and the European Investment Bank (EIB) is requested to suspend new funding operations in the country. The 27 also reiterated on Monday that the signature of the EU-Syria association agreement, which has already been negotiated, “is not on the agenda”.
In their conclusions, the ministers strongly condemn the repression and the “unacceptable violence” committed by the army and the security forces against peaceful protesters. “Those responsible for this violence should be held accountable”, they stress. The EU calls on Damascus to agree to allow a mission of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the country as a matter of urgency, as the UN Human Rights Council requested on 29 April. It also calls for the immediate release of all those arrested for taking part in the demonstrations, together with all political prisoners and human rights defenders. (H.B./transl.fl)