Brussels, 20/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - In response to the continued bloody repression of the civilian population of Syria, the EU is preparing to extend sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The Foreign Affairs Council met in Luxembourg on Monday 20 June to “actively” prepare a toughening of the restrictive measures in place (freezing of assets, visa ban) with the extension of the list of those persons and companies subject to European sanctions. These “additional designations” are an attempt to encourage the Syrian regime to make “a fundamental change of policy without delay”, foreign ministers stated in their conclusions. According to diplomatic sources, discussions will continue at expert level before a decision is taken by the end of the week on adding the names of some further 15 persons and companies to the list. The Council also condemned the steadily increasing repression of civilians and demanded an immediate cease to violence which constituted “a threat to internal and regional stability”. The only way to resolve this crisis is through “credible, genuine and inclusive national dialogue” leading to “meaningful political reforms without delay”, member states said. Some ministers would have preferred more forceful language. UK Foreign Minister William Hague went as far as to call on the Syrian president to begin reform to bring greater democracy to his country or withdraw from power. Swedish minister Carl Bildt was critical of the “silence from the UN Security Council”, which, he said, may be seen as “indirectly tolerating” what is happening in Syria. “It's unacceptable”, he stated. (H.B./transl.rt)