Luxembourg, 20/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 20 October, the European Union approved fresh sanctions against the regime of Bashar al Assad.
EU foreign ministers reached political agreement imposing a ban on the export of jet fuel and relevant additives being exported to Syria as “they are being used for indiscriminate air attacks against civilians”, ministers state in their conclusions. The legal acts bringing this political agreement into effect still have to be adopted, the Council states in a press release.
In addition, 14 persons responsible for the violent repression of the civilian population, have been made subject to a travel ban in the EU and have had their assets frozen. Two further persons and two entities providing practical support to the Syrian regime will also be subject to the restrictions. The measures will target in particular the new Syrian government in place since 31 August, stated a European source quoted by AFP. The measures will come into force on Tuesday 21 October with the publication of the legal acts - including the names of the designated persons and entities - in the Official Journal of the EU. With this latest decision, 211 persons and 63 entities are now subject to EU sanctions against the Syrian regime. In their conclusions, ministers state that the EU will continue its policy of imposing additional measures against the regime until such time as the repression ceases. (CG)