Brussels, 15/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Sanctions banning the export to Syria of luxury goods and the ban on exports - or the requirement that an export licence be obtained beforehand - of dual purpose goods that could be used to repress the people will come into force on 17 June. The arrangements for implementing these sanctions, which were agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council of 23 April as ways of tackling repression and also of hitting the lifestyle of the Assad family, were adopted on 15 June.
Exports of caviar, truffles and cigars priced at more than €10, wines and spirits (costing over €50 per bottle), leather goods (worth more than €200), clothing and shoes (over €600) and jewellery will now be banned. Similarly, table ware, clocks and watches, luxury cars, aeroplanes and boats above a certain price will no longer be able to be exported to Syria.
In addition, an export ban has been placed on protection and detection equipment, facilities for the production of chemical substances, certain chemicals and also certain viruses, bacteria and toxins.
France contemplates support for rebels
On Friday, the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said France plans to assist the Syrian anti-government activists by providing them with communication means. “It is being envisaged. The Americans have done it and we shall perhaps do it, not by providing weapons but rather additional communication means to the rebels”, he said, underlining that “in addition to diplomatic efforts, another way out of the conflict would be a clear and decisive victory on the part of the opposition”.
Fabius also stressed that discussions were underway with Russia to prepare for the post-Assad period. “The Russians themselves are today not attached to Bashar al-Assad as a person. They see he is a tyrant and an assassin and that they will only weaken themselves by being linked to such a dictator”, the French foreign minister said. He explained that the Russians are aware someone must take over if Bashar is ousted, and discussions are on this. Russia, however, has denied such information. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has pointed out: “Such discussions are not taking place and cannot take place. This is in total contradiction to the position we hold”. (CG/transl.rt/jl)