Member of the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC) Basma Qadamani called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Russian companies involved in the delivery of arms shipments to the Assad’s regime which uses them to indiscriminately bomb liberated areas across Syria.
Following a meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and EU officials in Brussels on Monday, Qadamani said: “Any possible lifting of the EU sanctions on Russia will be understood by the Kremlin and Bashar al-Assad as a gesture allowing them to return to the international arena.”
Qadamani was referring to the sanctions the EU imposed on Russia in connection with the crisis in Ukraine, expressing surprise at hints made by some EU officials who considered Syria as less important than Ukraine.
Qadamani, who did not specify the names Russian companies that should be sanctioned, stressed that the interests of Europe in Syria are now at stake.
Qadamani pointed out that the Assad regime has so far refused to engage in the “technical discussions” in Geneva. She added that the HNC is putting the final touches on a new document outlining the opposition’s vision for political transition in Syria. The HNC will submit the document to the UN. Qadamani stressed that no concessions have been made in the document regarding the fate of Bashar al-Assad.
Qadamani ruled out the inclusion of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) into the HNC, adding that the PYD militias are fighting the Free Syrian Army on various fronts across Syria and have allowed regime forces to make progress against the FSA.
Qadamani noted that the panic caused by the UK’s vote last week to leave the European Union has made the bloc more determined to play a bigger role in Syria. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)
