Foreign Ministry: Syria calls for the immediate lifting of coercive measures in light of the spread of Coronavirus in neighboring countries

On March 19, Syria called on the international community to respect the principles of international humanitarian law and the sanctity of human life and work to lift unilateral coercive measures immediately and unconditionally, especially in the circumstances of the spread of  Coronavirus in neighboring countries.

An official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said: “In light of the escalation of the risks posed by the Coronavirus and the international mobilization to confront this epidemic, contain it and prevent its spread, the United States of America  and the European Union continue to impose illegal unilateral restrictive measures on a number of countries, some of which suffer greatly from the spread  of this virus in a blatant violation human rights and the most basic human values and principles.”
The source added that the Syrian Arab Republic, whose people have suffered and continue to suffer from terrorist aggression and illegal unilateral coercive measures that affect the lives of citizens, especially in the health sector, calls on the international community to respect the principles of international humanitarian law and the sanctity of human life and work to immediately lift these sanctions, especially under these conditions in which Coronavirus is spreading in neighboring countries.

The source added that Syria at the same time renews its full solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Cuba and all the countries in which the epidemic has spread or face the risk of spread. These countries are  subject to sanctions at a time, when the efforts should be targeted towards uniting work to save humanity from this epidemic.

The source said : “ Syria calls for the immediate and unconditional lifting of these sanctions and calls on other countries to break this illegal and unjust blockade. The United States and its allies impose sanctions yet brag about protecting human rights. They should  fully shoulder the responsibility for every human victim of this epidemic as they are  impeding efforts to address this virus, which it constitutes a serious threat to all mankind and are preventing  assistance in controlling it.

O. al-Mohammad