The European Union on Monday announced it was adding seven ministers of the government of Syria to the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures against the Assad regime and its supporters.
The Syrian Coalition stressed the importance of activating the work of the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) established in 2016 to support efforts to hold accountable perpetrators of war crimes in Syria.
The decision brought to 277 the number of persons targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze for being responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria, benefiting from or supporting the regime, and/or being associated with such persons.
The EU added that it would continue to “consider further restrictive measures against Syria as long as the repression continues.”
The EU sanctions currently in place against Syria also include: an oil embargo, restrictions on trade and investment, a freeze of the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU, export restrictions on arms, weapons, equipment that might be used for internal repression as well as on equipment and technology for the monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications.
The EU concluded its statement by stressing that it “remains committed to finding a lasting and credible political solution to the conflict in Syria as defined in the UN Security Council resolution 2254 and in the 2012 Geneva Communiqué.”
The Syrian Coalition welcomed the EU decision as it stressed the need support efforts to ensure accountability through the establishment of a special tribunal to look into war crimes and crimes against humanity taking place in Syria, especially in light of Russia’s obstruction of efforts on the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
The EU has begun to impose sanctions on the Assad regime officials since early December 2011, including on Bashar al-Assad and members of his family as well as companies and entities dealing with the regime. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department + Agencies)
