World Jewish News
EU to broaden sanctions against Syria, condemns killing of journalists in Homs
23.02.2012, Israel and the World The European Union is expected to announce new sanctions against Syria when EU Foreign Ministers meet next Monday in Brussels as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the killing of two journalists in the Syrian city of Homs.
The new sanctions are to include a ban on Syrian-run cargo flights into the EU, 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 al-Assad and his inner circle, already under EU travel bans and asset freezes.
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, EU sources said.
Countries 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 repression that has left more than 7,600 people dead, according to rights groups, since anti-regime protests erupted in March.
On Wednesday, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, condemned the attack that led to the death of Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin, an American freelance journalist, and French photographer Remi Ochlik.
Ramy al-Sayed, a Syrian journalist with the Shaam News Network, was also killed in the same area.
Ashton’s spokesperson said "she is appalled by the situation in Syria, and in particular in the city of Homs, where the regime continues its brutal repression and attacks against the civilian population."
"The escalation of violence in the country must be immediately brought to an end," she said.
"Freedom of expression must be guaranteed and therefore the press must be allowed to carry out its vital role of providing independent information on events in Syria without fear of violence or repression."
"The High Representative calls on the Syrian army to immediately end the killings and withdraw from the besieged towns and cities. The Syrian authorities must allow full and unimpeded access of relief personnel from international humanitarian organizations for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid to persons in need of assistance."
Three other Western journalists were wounded in the attack on a makeshift media centre in Homs, including Colvin's British photographer colleague Paul Conroy and French reporter Edith Bouvier of daily Le Figaro.
France has demanded access to the victims of the attack and summoned Syria's envoy in Paris.
"I am asking the Syrian government to immediately stop attacks and respect its humanitarian obligations," Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.
"I have asked our embassy in Damascus to require the Syrian authorities provide secure medical access to assist the victims with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross," he said in a statement.
He said he had also "summoned the Syrian ambassador to remind him of the intolerable nature of the Syrian government's behavior."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the incident was a further sign that Assad should give up power.
"This shows that enough is enough, this regime must go. There is no reason why Syrians should not have the right to live their lives, to freely choose their destiny," he said.
EJP
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