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EU Tightens Embargo on Syria

July 23, 2012

The European Union has tightened the noose on Syria's government, strengthening an arms embargo, blacklisting nearly 30 people and companies associated with the regime, and banning the Syrian national airline from landing in EU countries.

With the conflict intensifying in Syria, EU foreign ministers moved on two fronts: strengthening sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and freeing up more humanitarian assistance for Syrians fleeing the violence.

During talks in Brussels, they added more than two dozen names of Syrian people and companies that face EU travel bans and asset freezes. Most of the individuals are military officials.

Syria's national carrier is also banned from landing in EU airports, although it can fly over European countries and make emergency stops.

The ministers also tightened a 2011 EU arms embargo against the Syrian regime. Member states are now required to search suspect planes and ships. Until now, the searches were optional.

More aid

And with a flood of Syrians now fleeing their country, the ministers agreed to earmark another $24 million in aid to Syrian refugees, to an overall total of $76 million. But British Foreign Secretary William Hague says more needs to be done.

"We have to step up our humanitarian assistance for the people fleeing across the borders, to give more practical support to the Syria opposition, including helping them prepare for Syria after Assad, and to encourage other countries outside [the] EU to impose serious and effective sanctions on the Assad regime which we are making some progress in doing," Hague said.

The ministers also discussed possibilities for a post-Assad Syria.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the EU is looking at how to assemble a post-Assad transitional government that will represent all of Syria's diverse population.

Thousands of Syrians have died and tens of thousands have been uprooted since an anti-government uprising began more than a year ago.

Chemical weapons

On Monday, the Assad government vowed not to use chemical weapons in the conflict.

After Western and Israeli claims over the weekend, Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi appeared eager to reassure the world that Syria's stock of unconventional weapons were in no danger of falling into the wrong hands.

Makdissi said that chemical or biological weapons would never be used unless Syria comes under outside aggression.

Analyst Riad Kahwaji of the Institute of Near East and Gulf Military Analysis tells VOA it was the "first time a Syrian official has admitted that Damascus possesses weapons of mass destruction."

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Monday that the possibility that Syria could use chemical weapons was very worrying and the subject of intense scrutiny by the West. The United States warned Syria Monday not to even consider using chemical weapons.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his country is prepared to act to neutralize the threat posed by Syrian weapons of mass destruction.

Appearing on Fox News, the prime minister said he worries chaos in Syria could allow chemical weapons to fall into the hands of sworn enemies of Israel.

Arab demands

Meanwhile, Arab League foreign ministers indicated during a meeting in Qatar Monday, that they hoped Mr. Assad would step down, saving the Syrian people any further suffering.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad ben Jassem ben Jabbar al Thani said that the league was offering President Assad the possibility to leave Syria with his family without threat of prosecution.

But the Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the matter of who governs Syria is "a matter for the Syrian people to decide." He said the Arab League was "aggravating the situation" inside the country.

The pressure on the Syrian government comes as opposition activists reported attacks by government helicopters in parts of Damascus. Activists claimed Syrian forces "executed dozens of young men" in several parts of the capital for helping rebels capture two neighborhoods, later retaken by the government.

Fierce government shelling also continued in at least half a dozen towns and cities. Analyst Kahwaji said government forces have abandoned parts of the country in recent days, choosing to defend some key areas.

Lisa Bryant reported from Paris and Edward Yeranian reported from Cairo.