UPDATE 1 -- European Union announces ban on importation of Syrian oil

[News_Editor]

UPDATE 1 -- European Union announces ban on importation of Syrian oil

2011-09-02 22:08:51 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union (EU) on Friday announced that the European Council has increased its sanctions against Syria by imposing a ban on the import of its oil to the EU. Other sanctions have also been introduced.

The prohibition concerns the purchase, import and transport of oil and other petroleum products from Syria, while no financial or insurance services may be provided for such transactions. Furthermore, the Council also added four more Syrian people and three entities to the list of those targeted by an asset freeze and travel ban.

However, the Council also introduced an exemption to the asset freeze. The exemption covers humanitarian purposes such as the delivery of medical supplies, food or the evacuation of foreign nationals from Syria.

On May 9, the European Union imposed an arms embargo on Syria. The sanctions introduced on Friday are being made as the gravity of the situation in Syria continues to rise, with reports of new government crackdowns on anti-government protesters.

Speaking in Poland, British Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the ban on Syrian oil. "The EU has made clear that we will increase the pressure on President Assad until he steps aside and allows a transition to a different type of regime," Hague said.

He added: "Throughout Ramadan we have witnessed horrific scenes of continued brutality. This is unacceptable and today we have agreed a ban on all EU imports of Syrian crude oil products to constrict the regime's funding and reduce its ability to fund the repression of innocent civilians."

Hague said it is important to ensure that sanctions are targeted and that their impact on Syrian civilians is minimized. "This remains the case," he said. "The problems that the Syrian people are facing today are the direct result of years of economic mismanagement and the economic collapse caused by the Assad regime's current crackdown. Any attempt to pass on further hardship to the Syrian people would show his utter disregard for their well being. Let me be clear: President Assad and those around him are to blame for this. No one else."

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt also welcomed the new sanctions. "[The] EU ban on import of oil from Syria will truly bite. [it's a] third of hard currency earnings of [the] country," Bildt wrote in a message on his Twitter account. "We are serious."

Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal also commented on the new sanctions. "With these sanctions we want to hit the regime in its heart. It has to be absolutely clear that there needs to be an end against the use of force," he said. "We are increasing pressure, as far as necessary."

Last week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that more than 2,200 people have been killed in Syria since pro-democracy demonstrations began in mid-March as part of a broader uprising across North Africa and the Middle East that has led to the toppling of entrenched regimes in Tunisia and Egypt and conflict in Libya. More than 350 people have reportedly been killed since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on August 1.

The Syrian government has repeatedly claimed that the violent acts have been instigated by terrorists who use military uniforms and weaponry to pose as soldiers while attacking citizens but these claims have been rejected by residents, human rights groups, and the international community.

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