The European Union will continue the sanctions regime against Syria if repression against the opposition continues and there is no progress in resolving the conflict, EU diplomat Josep Borrell said on Sunday, March 14.
Over the past 10 years, he said, “countless abuses and violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law have been committed by all parties, but especially by the Syrian regime.” In addition, Borrell noted that the conflict had serious repercussions in the region and beyond, and served as a fuel for terrorist organizations.
The EU still wants the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state and is ready to support free elections under the supervision of the UN. At the same time, the diplomat stressed that they must meet international transparency standards and all Syrians, including members of the diaspora, must participate in them.
“Elections organized by the Syrian regime, such as last year’s parliamentary elections or this year’s presidential elections, cannot meet these criteria and, therefore, cannot contribute to a solution to the conflict or lead to any normalization of international relations with the Syrian regime,” he said. Borrell “Interfax”.
As the head of European diplomacy explained, the European Union is “ready to strengthen the dialogue between all international participants that have an impact on the Syrian crisis” and calls on the conference, which will be held on March 29 and 30 in Brussels under the auspices of the UN, to confirm support for a political solution in accordance with UNSCR 2254 …
The fifth Brussels conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” will bring together Syrian governments and international civil society organizations.
On March 14, it became known that the British police began a preliminary investigation into the first lady of Syria, Asma Assad, suspected of inciting terrorist acts during the civil war in the republic.
Asmah Assad’s suspicions could face possible prosecution and loss of British citizenship.
Among the measures the authorities can take against Assad is the red bulletin of Interpol, which will prevent her from leaving Syria.
In December last year, the US State Department imposed sanctions on the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Asma and her next of kin. The reason was attributed to Asma leading efforts to consolidate economic and political power in the country. On August 20, Washington imposed sanctions on six Syrian citizens from Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle.