Syrian FM slams EU sanctions

Syria: The EU “erred” in imposing sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his top aides on Monday, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said, branding the measures a new “black page” in Europe’s history.

“They erred when they attacked the president and when they adopted sanctions that harm the Syrian people,” a sombre-looking Muallem said in an interview on state television.

“Today, the Europeans have added a black page to their record of colonialism in the region,” he said.

“Europe needs us as we need them,” Muallem said. “These measures will harm Syria’s interests as they will those of Europe and Syria will not remain silent to this.”

He said Israel stood to benefit most from sanctions imposed on his country by the EU as well as the United States and dismissed any prospect of a foreign intervention in Syria.

“They are inciting violence ... and are preventing attempts by the government to pursue reforms in order to improve the quality of life for citizens,” Muallem said.

“They want Syria to bleed because Syria is a difficult equation in the face of their plans and Israel’s expansionist project.”

The EU sanctions on Assad include an assets freeze and travel ban, in response to his regime’s harsh crackdown on pro-democracy protests which activists say have left more than 900 people dead.

The sanctions came following similar measures imposed by the United States and amid mounting calls by the international community for Assad’s authoritarian regime to stop the violence.

Muallem appealed for Syrians to unite and stressed that Assad would remain at the helm as he pushes ahead with economic and political reforms. Damascus, Tuesday, AFP