Syrian Coalition Welcomes Extension of EU Sanctions Against the Assad Regime and Calls for More Targeted Pressure

Press Release

Syrian Coalition

May 28, 2015

Following the decision by the European Union to extend sanctions against the Assad regime and its supporters, the Syrian National Coalition’s representative to the Benelux and the European Union, Mouaffaq Nyrabia, said:

“I welcome today’s decision by the EU to renew its sanctions against the Assad regime, including new measures against another high ranking military official central to the regime’s brutal campaign of repression.

“As Assad continues to pursue a military solution, it is important that targeted pressure on the regime and its backers is not only sustained, but increased in support of a political solution. Four years on from the start of the Syrian uprising, Assad’s airpower remains unimpeded as regime aircraft continue to bombard Syria’s towns and cities, including the documented use of barrel bombs containing chlorine. I urge the EU to take all measures available to cut off the ongoing flow of advanced weaponry to the regime from its Iranian, Hizbollah and Russian backers, and in parallel focus more targeted sanctions against those responsible for the regime’s ongoing indiscriminate airstrike campaign across Syria.

“Until the regime’s core arms suppliers and financiers are targeted – and the regime’s airforce is stopped in its destruction of Syria – Assad will intensify his pursuit of a pyrrhic military victory - fuelling the conflict and exacerbating the already devastating humanitarian crisis”.