EU decision to buy Syrian oil from opposition ‘aggressive act’, says FM

DAMASCUS,(ST)_Syria censures as ‘aggressive act’ the decision taken at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg to open door to Syrian oil sales to Europe if authorized by the so-called “National Coalition”.

 In two letters sent to the Head of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General, Foreign and Expatriate Ministry said: “the EU foreign ministers’ decision adopted on April 22, 2013 to allow European importers to buy crude oil from Syria under the pretext of providing financial support to citizens and opposition if authorized by the so-called ‘opposition coalition’, which represents no one in Syria, is unprecedented step.”

It clarified that the decision contradicts International law and UN charter. “It is an aggressive act under the resolution No. 3314 endorsed by the General Assembly in 1874 as regard definition of aggression.”

The ministry cited that the EU, which is involved in the persistent economic and political campaign that targets national economy and the Syrian citizens’ living conditions, has adopted a new step contradicts the principle of sovereignty and peoples’ right to choose their economic and political systems without foreign meddling.

“The decision also preaches the special declaration made by the General Assembly in 1962 under the title ‘permanent sovereignty over natural resources’,” the ministry said.

It underscored that the EU sanctions imposed on Syria since the beginning of the crisis are illegal and illegitimate and increased the Syrian people’s suffering.

“Neither European Union nor any body has the right to adopt a procedure that would impinge on the states’ sovereignty over national resources,” the ministry added.

It confirmed that the Syrian Arab Republic will adopt necessary measures to preserve its sovereignty and national resources, calling on the UNSC to fulfill its role in preventing the implementation of the illegitimate decision, which aims to support al-Nusra Front-affiliated armed groups in Syria.

Basma Qaddour