Brussels, 07/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is discussing new sanctions against the Syrian regime. This might concern central bank transactions and the trade in gold and precious metals, European diplomatic circles announced on Tuesday 7 February.
Recalling that a Foreign Affairs Council is to be held on 27 February, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton asserted during her trip to Brazil that she expected further proposals for measures to be made to step up political pressure on the Syrian regime so that it understands it must stop killing its people.
According to a European source, there is still a great deal to be done before a new series of sanctions can be adopted. The EU, however, is contemplating imposing economic measures that will limit the Syrian regime's access to sources of financing still further. Possibilities include more assets freezing and action against the central bank. There is already a ban on supplying the central bank with notes and coins but the new sanctions could also concern banking transactions. Yet another measure could be used against the trade in gold and precious metals with Syria. The ban had already been the subject of an agreement of principle between the EU member states but the decision had finally been rejected. “It came back on the table this week”, a European source said. Germany is also reported to have suggested a ban on commercial flights to and from Syria.
Member states, but not the EU, recall their ambassadors. The United Kingdom, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Spain have recalled their ambassadors from Syria for “consultation”, but the European Union has stated it does not plan to pull out the head of the European delegation in Damascus, Vassilis Bontosoglou, said Catherine Ashton's spokesman, Michael Mann. He went on to specify that it is important to keep EU representatives on the spot as there is no free press for keeping abreast of events. Poland, for its part, will provide the consular services that Americans might need, given that their embassy in Damascus has already been closed. The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council have, for their part, decided to withdraw their ambassadors from Syria and to expel the Syrian ambassadors present on their territory.
New initiative by Turkey. Addressing parliament, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey will be launching a new international initiative with the countries that support the people but not the regime of Syria. He gave no further details.
Brazil is opposed to unilateral sanctions. There is no unanimity, however, on the sanctions policy. The Brazilian foreign minister, Antonio Pariota, said before Catherine Ashton on Monday 6 February that his country was “against unilateral sanctions” and considered the UN Security Council as the “appropriate forum” for such decisions. “We do not have any certainty that unilateral sanctions help to create the right climate” for a diplomatic solution, he explained. The Brazilian minister said he backed initiatives such as a more active role by the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, or closer cooperation between the Arab League and the United Nations. (CG/transl.jl)