Diplomats: EU Set to Beef up Syria Sanctions
The European Union is set to slap fresh sanctions on Syria, including a ban on Syrian-run cargo flights into the 27-nation bloc, EU diplomats said Wednesday.
"There will be more sanctions announced Monday" when EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels, one source said.
Other measures include a freeze on the European assets of the Syrian central bank and restrictions on trade in gold and precious metals.
A further seven people also are to be added to an existing list of almost 150 entities and people, including President Bashar Assad and his inner circle, already under EU travel bans and asset freezes.
Cargo flights to the EU operated by Syrians will not be allowed to land, but should they be carrying passengers they will be given access to EU nations.
Some nations had also urged a ban on phosphate exports from Syria as the EU accounts for 40 percent of those. But Greece, which is one of the main buyers, opposed the ban, sources said.
Nations that do extensive business with Syria also argued against full sanctions against the central bank, fearing that such measures would halt all trade and impact on the Syrian people.
Likewise a proposal to ban commercial flights between Europe and Syria was dropped as it would complicate efforts to evacuate EU citizens if such action was needed.
The EU has already imposed oil and arms embargoes against Syria in response to a crackdown that has left more than 7,600 people dead, according to rights groups, since anti-regime protests erupted in March.
Source: Agence France Presse
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