EU Agrees Sanctions against Syrian Officials

Saturday 7 May 2011

EU Agrees Sanctions against Syrian Officials

The European Union agreed on Friday to impose sanctions on 14 Syrian officials, but President Bashar al-Assad was not among those targeted.

After a meeting of EU ambassadors, the 27 country bloc said it would impose travel restrictions and asset freezes on the 14 individuals, with the measures to be formally approved early next week if no member state objects.

Yet, diplomats told AFP that ambassadors from the 27-nation bloc would take a new look on Monday at whether to add Assad's name on a list of Syrians to be hit by an assets freeze and travel ban.

"There is an agreement in principle," an EU official said of the asset freeze and travel ban decision. "It would be adopted probably officially early next week." While Assad is not on the list, there is the possibility that he will be added in time, the official was quoted by Reuters as saying.

European nations were split over taking punitive measures against officials blamed for the brutal repression of recent weeks, and particularly over whether to target Assad.

Britain, France and Germany argued in favor of a swift and clear message while smaller states - notably Cyprus, Portugal and Greece - were reticent over targeting Assad. Estonia for its part is concerned for seven of its nationals kidnapped in Syria's neighbor Lebanon.

Among EU sanctions already agreed in principle are an embargo on the sale of weapons and equipment that might be used for internal repression as well as a review of the bloc's cooperation with Syria.

France in particular had urged Assad's name remain on a 14-member list of Syrians targeted by restrictive measures, but several smaller EU nations were reticent, said diplomats who requested anonymity. "The French strongly favor inclusion, Britain and Germany support that but not at the expense of holding up the rest" of the sanctions, said a diplomat.

Meanwhile, Syrian state TV reported five army soldiers, including one officer, were martyred on Friday after an attack was launched on them by an armed group in Homs.