Brussels, 23/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - As anticipated, the foreign affairs ministers of the EU, meeting in Council on Monday 23 July, adopted new measures against Syria and tightened up the EU embargo on weapons. Twenty-six new people have been given a visa ban and will see their assets frozen, together with three entities. According to the Luxembourg minister, Jean Asselborn, the EU is banning the Syrian national airline from landing on European soil and from operating flights between the EU and Syria. “This is an important measure taken on an economic level”, he said. According to a European diplomat, the cotton sector could also be targeted.
The ministers decided to reinforce the weapons embargo, in force since May 2011, by setting in place a control obligation for vessels and aircraft suspected of carrying weapons or equipment which could be used for the purposes of repression to Syria. Vessels and aircraft will also have to provide additional information regarding their cargo before arrival and departure. The EU, which is concerned at the influx of weapons to Syria, also calls in its conclusions on all States to abstain from supplying Syria with weapons. It is also deeply concerned by the potential use of chemical weapons in Syria.
The ministers also decided to authorise payments by banks subject to sanctions if the transfers consist of financial support to Syrian students and researchers in the EU.
No formal condemnation of the attack in Damascus
In their conclusions, without condemning the attack in Damascus on 18 July, the ministers express their deep concern by the recent intensification of violence, “which shows the urgent need for political change”. Asselborn drew a parallel between this attack and the one against Adolf Hitler of 20 July 1944, questioning whether this is a “terrorist attack or an act of heroism”, going on however to stress that supplying the opposition with weapons will increase the conflict. The Council also reiterates its concerns on the subject of infringements of human rights, and the consequences of the crisis the neighbouring countries.
The EU welcomes the result of the meetings of the Friends of Syria on 6 July and of the Action Group on 30 June, “and especially the establishment of a transition government with full powers, made up of representatives of the government and the opposition”. The ministers joined the High Representative in welcoming the UN decision to extend the mandate of the observers, but deeply regret the fact that the Security Council cannot agree on a resolution. Welcoming the “national pact” and the “common political vision for transition in Syria”, the Council calls on the various opposition groups to continue to engage in this process.
Preparing for post-Assad
Upstream of the Council, the ministers stressed the need to prepare for the post-Assad regime. “We do not know when he will fall, but he will fall. We must be prepared to help and support the country economically and politically”, said the Swedish minister, Carl Bildt. In Asselborn's opinion, this could take “a few days, a few weeks”. The Assad regime “could certainly kill more people, but it certainly can no longer win out”, stressed German Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Michael Link. (CG/transl.fl)