The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) welcomed the US Treasury Department’s decision to slap sanctions on new list of individuals and entities supporting the Assad regime and its war on the Syrian people.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the SOC said that it saw in the new batch of US sanctions, which came one year after the Caesar Act was passed, as an important part of the pressure being exerted in support of the rights of the Syrian people, and representing further step to force the Assad regime to stop its crimes against civilians and commit to the political process in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
“Although the new sanctions do not target the Syrian people and exclude humanitarian, medical and food aid, the Assad regime continues to circumvent the sanctions and blame them for the disasters, economic collapse and poor living conditions that it brought to the country.”
The SOC also said that with the new US administration about to assume office, the Syrian people are looking forward to an integrated international strategy that would ensure an end to the crimes of the Assad regime and its allies, the subversive Iranian and Russian role in Syria and the region, and the suffering of the Syrian people.
“A new strategy is also needed to ensure reaching a political transition in accordance with the Geneva Communique of 2012, UN Security Council Resolutions 2118 and 2254, and UN General Assembly Resolution 67/262 calling for the formation of a transitional governing body that includes the powers of the government and the presidency.”
The SOC went on: “The Syrian people are waiting for more international sanctions against all allies of the Assad regime, including states, organizations and individuals, while stressing the need to ratchet up pressure to force the Assad regime to engage seriously in the political process.”
The SOC called on international actors to take more practical steps that would contribute to ending the tragedy that the Assad regime has brought to Syria. “Indeed, the Assad regime has not made any concessions nor has it complied with any UN resolutions for half a century except under real international pressure and under the direct threat of the use of force.”
The U.S. Treasury Department said the new sanctions add two individuals, nine business entities and the Central Bank of Syria to Washington’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.
The U.S. State Department also designated Asma al-Assad, wife of Bashar al-Assad, accusing her of impeding efforts for a political resolution to the war, and several members of her family.
Among those blacklisted were Lina Mohammed Nazir al-Kinayeh, one of Assad’s key advisers; her husband, Syrian parliamentarian Mohammed Hammam Mohammed Adnan Masouti; several government affiliated businesses; and General Kifah Moulhem, commander of Syria’s Military Intelligence organization.
Four companies owned or controlled by al-Kinayeh or Masouti were added to the SDN List: Souran Company, Lia Company, Letia Company, and Polymedics LLC. The new action added five entities to the SDN List that were identified as blocked property of Amer Taysir Khiti or Khiti Holding Group, individually or in the aggregate: Al-Amer for Manufacture of Concrete and Flagstone, Al-Amer for Manufacture of Plastic, Al-Layth Alzahabe Transportation and Shipping Services, Al-Amer Development and Real Estate Investment, and Good Land Company. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
