(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 22 - The European Union will
announce new sanctions against Syria during next Monday's
council of Foreign Ministers, a European Commission spokesperson
said. ''The member states are discussing a new package of
sanctions against Syria and an announcement is expected on
Monday,'' the spokesperson said.
The discussion between the 27 member state is focusing on new restrictive sanctions in the financial and economic sector, including sanctions against the central bank of Iran and restrictions on exports of precious metals and diamonds. ''The proposal of an embargo on phosphate imports from Syria has been rejected,'' diplomatic sources said, specifying that the measure was blocked by Greece. The 27 are considering an embargo on air freight on the other hand. Germany has proposed to target commercial flights as well, but the other EU partners were not convinced because they fear that banning all flights could make the evacuation of European citizens more difficult, should this operation become necessary. The EU has already launched an oil embargo against Syria, as well as a visa stop and an asset freeze regarding a long list of officials with links to the regime. Meanwhile, the United Nations chief of humanitarian affairs and emergency operations, Valerie Amos, will visit Syria to assess the local human rights situation. Amos will also repeat the request for access for international organisations to supply emergency aid to the population. Today two journalists were among the victims in Homs, the American Mary Colvin (Sunday Times) and French photographer Remi Ochlik. The building where they had set up a small press centre was shelled by troops of Bashar al-Assad. (ANSAmed).
The discussion between the 27 member state is focusing on new restrictive sanctions in the financial and economic sector, including sanctions against the central bank of Iran and restrictions on exports of precious metals and diamonds. ''The proposal of an embargo on phosphate imports from Syria has been rejected,'' diplomatic sources said, specifying that the measure was blocked by Greece. The 27 are considering an embargo on air freight on the other hand. Germany has proposed to target commercial flights as well, but the other EU partners were not convinced because they fear that banning all flights could make the evacuation of European citizens more difficult, should this operation become necessary. The EU has already launched an oil embargo against Syria, as well as a visa stop and an asset freeze regarding a long list of officials with links to the regime. Meanwhile, the United Nations chief of humanitarian affairs and emergency operations, Valerie Amos, will visit Syria to assess the local human rights situation. Amos will also repeat the request for access for international organisations to supply emergency aid to the population. Today two journalists were among the victims in Homs, the American Mary Colvin (Sunday Times) and French photographer Remi Ochlik. The building where they had set up a small press centre was shelled by troops of Bashar al-Assad. (ANSAmed).
