News Release

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**May 18, 2012 -** Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:

“The ongoing, appalling violence perpetrated by the Assad regime against the people of Syria compels Canada to further isolate the regime and its backers.

“Canada is implementing additional measures, which include sanctions prohibiting the export of certain goods to Syria; sanctions against Syria’s state-run radio and television, the government-owned General Organization of Tobacco, and the petroleum exporter Altoun Group; and sanctions against three individuals closely associated with the regime.

“Our expanded sanctions target the regime, not the Syrian people.

“The international community must redouble its efforts to get adherence to Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s six-point plan or move on and explore other diplomatic solutions to the crisis.

“Assad continues to blatantly disregard the international community while innocent people perish.

“Canada stands with the Syrian people and supports their demands for freedom, dignity, and a better, brighter future.”

For more information, please visit [Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations](http://www.international.gc.ca/sanctions/syria_developments-developpements_syrie5.aspx?view=d).