Brussels, 22/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The member states of the EU have concluded a new raft of sanctions against Syria, due to the continued repression, European diplomats announced on Wednesday 22 February. These new measures include, amongst other things, a freezing of the assets of the Syrian Central Bank, a ban on a number of its transactions and the trade in precious metals, and an embargo on freight flights from the country. These sanctions are to be officially adopted on Monday 27 February, at the Foreign Affairs Council.
On Wednesday, Russia announced its opposition to the French proposal to bring in humanitarian corridors. “It is unlikely that the creation of these humanitarian corridors will be effective. It can only worsen the conflict and lead to serious military clashes”, explained the deputy Russian foreign minister, Guennadi Gatilov. owever, Moscow has got behind calls by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for a daily two-hour ceasefire to channel humanitarian aid. “We are deeply concerned by reports on the difficult humanitarian situation (…). It is agreed that this time will be used to provide the population with humanitarian aid”, the foreign minister announced.
His French counterpart, Alain Juppé, has called on the regime to provide “secure and medicalised access to provide relief to the victims, with the support of the ICRC”, following the death in Homs of a French photographer and an American war correspondent. He called on the Syrian government for the “immediate cessation of attacks and respect of the humanitarian obligations incumbent on it”. The European Commission has sent the families his condolences and Russia has strongly condemned the two deaths.
It is believed that since 2011, more than 7,600 people have died, including 5,500 civilians. (CG/transl.fl)