The US Special Representative for Syria, James Jeffrey, told EUROPE on Wednesday 17 June that the European Union’s sanctions programme against the Syrian regime was “powerful”.
He was speaking during a telephone briefing with some international journalists, including EUROPE, to present the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which came into force the same day. This legislation authorises additional sanctions and financial restrictions against institutions and individuals dealing with the Syrian regime.
“We have consulted with the EU at various level on our sanctions policy (...) The EU has a powerful sanctions programme against the Assad regime to support the political process”, he explained.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced measures against 39 people, some of whom are members of the Assad family, including Bachar and his wife. According to Mr Jeffrey, 15 of these people are already sanctioned by the EU, which at the end of May extended its sanctions for one year (see EUROPE 12495/37). “We will undertake our campaign of economic and political pressure in full cooperation with other like-minded nations, especially our European partners”, Pompeo warned.
The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act is “one of many tools that the international community is using to end the conflict and restore security in the region”, the U.S. Representative said. And while in recent months the international community’s condemnation of the Assad regime has increased, whether it be for blocking humanitarian aid, attacks on civilians or the use of chemical weapons, Mr Jeffrey said that this legislation would “give teeth” to those condemnations.
The US Special Representative also clarified that the United States was working with the EU on the Conference on Syria, to be held, at the initiative of the Union, at the end of the month by videoconference. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)