Continuous EU Sanctions against Syria Worsen Syrians’ Suffering, Hamper Political Settlement Efforts
Extending the EU sanctions on Syria hampers efforts for finding a political solution to the crisis in the country and worsens the suffering of the Syrian people, Head of the Baath Arab Socialist Party’s Culture and Information Department Khalaf al-Muftah told Sputnik Arabic on Friday.
Commenting on the European Union’s new decision to extend its sanctions against the Syrian government until June 2017, Muftah said the EU sanctions on Syria are illegal and they contradict UN charter and international law, because economic sanctions on any country must be issued by the Security Council only.
“Experience has proved that economic sanctions can’t lead to change in political stances of countries,” Muftah added, referring to the 60 years long US sanctions on Cuba and the 34 years long sanctions on Iran. He affirmed that none of the two countries have changed their policies and that it is only the people who pay the price of unfair blockades..
“Lifting the economic siege imposed on the Syrian people would help find a solution as it creates a suitable environment for going ahead with successful political process,” he added.
Muftah urged Russia and Syria’s allies to raise Syria’s economic issue within the framework of any dialogue.
The economic issue should be present in Geneva talks and in any solution attempt, because the continuity of economic sanctions has been one of the main causes of prolonging the crisis in Syria and of the flow of refugees and immigrants towards Europe.
He criticized Europe’s hypocrisy and claims that it supports political solution in Syria while at the same time it toughens and extends the sanctions on the Syrians.
“When Europe say it wants to support war on terrorism it should show some goodwill gestures and some kind of credibility,” Muftah said.
He stressed that the sanctions contradict Europe’s claims about its concerns over the humanitarian situation in Syria.
“everybody knows that the reason behind the Syrians’ migration to Europe isn’t the political action, rather it is the economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian people and the terrorism which has been targeting the Syrian state and citizens for more than five years,” Muftah clarified.
Muftah, who called for lifting the economic blockade on Syria, said that sanctions have caused so much suffering for the Syrians and forced many people to leave their country.
On Friday, the European Union extended the sanctions imposed on Syria until Jun 1st , 2017.
The measures come as part of an EU decision in December 2014.
Hamda Mustafa