Brussels, 23/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 23 January, EU foreign ministers adopted new sanctions against Syria, adding 22 persons responsible for human rights violations and eight entities financially supporting the regime to the list of those subject to an asset freeze and a ban on entering the EU. This 11th raft of sanctions, which will be published in the Official Journal of 24 January, takes the number of persons affected by restrictive measures to 108 and the number of organisations to 28. The Council decided that the “listing of designated persons who have dissociated themselves from the repressive policy of the regime will be reconsidered”. Ministers also called on the international community to “join (the EU in) its efforts to target those responsible for or associated with the violent repression and those who support or benefit from the regime”.
Ministers called, too, for an end to the violence, expressing their deep concern at the recent escalation of the violence. “President Assad must step aside immediately to allow for a peaceful and democratic transition”, they say, encouraging the opposition “to make all efforts to strengthen coordination on the way forward in order to realise an orderly transition to a Syria that is democratic, stable, inclusive and that guarantees minority rights”.
The message is clear, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton: the repression must end immediately. The EU will continue to do all in its power to help the people of Syria exercise their legitimate political rights, she stated.
The Council also welcomed the Arab League to extend its observation mission and its resolution of 22 January in which it makes provision for the transfer of power from Bashir al-Assad to his vice-president and a government of national unity. Ministers also expressed their concern at the lack of cooperation from the Syrian authorities and call on them fully to respect the Arab League action plan.
“Day by day the situation worsens”, said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt before the Council meeting. His French counterpart Alain Juppé repeated his support for the efforts of the Arab League to “break the deadlock” with a new roadmap. On Monday, Syria categorically rejected the new Arab League plan. A leading Syrian official, quoted by the state television, described the plan as “blatant interference in the internal affairs of Syria”. (CG/transl.rt)