Jordan Says Syrian Sanctions Must Respect Interests

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said on Saturday that any Arab League sanctions against Syria must be compatible with the interests of each member country.

"We support Arab unity in regards to the Syrian issue, but as I said during the Arab League ministerial meeting (on Thursday), the interests of our country must be taken into consideration," Judeh said in joint news conference with his Cypriot counterpart.

"Jordan has interests in Syria, our imports travel by land across Syrian territory," he said.

"That is why I have noted the necessity that resolutions be compatible with the interests of each country," he said, adding that Jordanian interests included imports, borders, water and the presence of students in Syria.

Arab ministers were gathered in Cairo on Saturday to draw up sanctions against Syria to punish President Bashar Assad's regime for defying an ultimatum to allow in observers and pressing a deadly crackdown.

The finance ministers were to thrash out a package -- expected to include the suspension of flights and freezing of government assets -- which will be put to Arab foreign ministers on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, whose country has close economic ties with Syria and a large refugee community in its western neighbor, said it was "not possible" to impose sanctions on Assad's regime.

Comments 4
Default-user-icon Murad (Guest) 26 November 2011, 19:31

See? Not even Jordan can cope with sanctions on Syria. So why are you expecting more from Lebanon's government than Jordan and Iraq themselves can handle? Syria is the #1 source for affordable food, fuel, and clothing in the region.

Default-user-icon Beirut (Guest) 26 November 2011, 19:50

Assaad has called for election in February. Can't the arab league wait that long, or is it afraid of the outcome?

Default-user-icon Jean (Guest) 27 November 2011, 02:58

@ Beirut By then the death toll would be above 5000
@ Murad I'm sure there are other countries that sell those things affordably (It's embarrassing that Arabs are more concerned with not having to bother with looking for other sources of cheap good.. which exist for sure... than to care about a humanitarian disaster that is currently unfolding in Syria)

Default-user-icon Le PheneChien (Guest) 27 November 2011, 04:40

Lebanon has called for Election tomorrow and guess what if you do not elect Hizb el salah then you will be assassinated, killed and will disappear. This terrorist regime must go period, Lebanon constitution needs to be re-written, the army require reform and re-organization, the country will need to be rebuild from scratch under no foreign influence by Syria/Iran and Israel.