Luxembourg, 15/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 15 October, the foreign affairs ministers adopted new sanctions against Syria because of “intensifying violence”, by banning travel and freezing the assets of 28 people who are “responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population”. Two entities, which purchase material for double use, are also subject to an assets freeze.
The EU also bans Europeans from importing arms from Syria, transporting them and supplying financial services for exports of Syrian arms, including insurance and re-insurance. “No EU citizens or companies must be involved in Syrian military cooperation with third countries, which could benefit the Syrian regime”, the Council press release states. The ministers also ban access to European airports of Syrian Arab Airlines flights - which is also subject to an assets freeze. This comes in addition to an existing ban on Syrian cargo flights.
These sanctions will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on Tuesday 16 October. With the 19th set of sanctions, the visa ban and assets freeze concern 181 people. Companies or administrations that are also concerned total 54.
EU calls for an end to arms deliveries and for political transition. In their conclusions the ministers warn against greater militarisation and radicalisation of the conflict, and against sectarian violence. “Deeply concerned” about the increasing influx of weapons into Syria, the Council calls on all states to refrain from delivering arms. It also calls for the protection of civilians - “in particular vulnerable groups and religious communities”. The Council stresses the need for a political transition - from which Bashar al-Assad must be excluded - and it recalls that an inclusive and coordinated opposition is “essential” for starting this transition, urging it to unite. The EU is also committed to increasing its aid to strengthen the capacities of civil society.
The ministers are concerned too about unrest flaring up in the region. Guido Westerwelle from Germany said that it is necessary to convince those who continue to protect the Assad regime that the danger of unrest is increasing and that the danger of a war by proxy is growing.
The Council also “firmly” condemns the shelling of Turkish territory, and calls on all parties to prevent the escalation of violence, and on the Syrian authorities to respect the territorial integrity of neighbouring countries. French minister, Laurent Fabius, said that France is for a “de-escalation” of tension because “nothing would be worse than adding a conflict between the Syrians and the Turks to the Syrian drama”. His British counterpart, William Hague, recalled NATO's support to Turkey and said that Syria must avoid border incidents.
No agreement with Russia. The day before, at a dinner which lasted almost four hours between the European foreign affairs ministers and their Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, no agreement on Syria could be reached. Hague said that no progress had been made whatsoever and added that as had been the case for months they had not reached any agreement. His Italian colleague, Giulio Terzi, said that although evaluations are different, “a common understanding of the platform on which we can build is the one which emerged in Geneva” (our translation throughout). High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that the area of agreement for the Europeans and Russians rests on support for Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
According to a European diplomat, Lavrov greatly criticised the European attitude and their autonomous sanctions. (CG/transl.fl)