European Forum

EU imposes sanctions on Syria as opposition gains consolidation

On 23 September, as the restraint of antigovernment protests in Syria continues, the European Union introduces more severe economic sanctions on the country, including a ban on investment in the Syrian oil industry and a ban on delivering bank notes to the Syrian Central Bank.

Following the latest meetings of the opponents to Syria’s president Bashar Al-Assad, a Syrian opposition unification seems to finally acquire visible forms. Last week’s gathering of more than 200 Syrian opposition figures met in Damascus to support a six-months protest against Bashar Al-Assad regime, was described as significant by an opposition figure Dr Samir Aita. The assembly participants asked for no international intervention, no sectarianism and no violence.

Earlier, many Syrian exiles met in Istanbul, Turkey, and inspired by Libya's model of self-appointed Transitional National Council, established the Syrian National Council to include both the transitional opposition, namely the Syrian intellectuals fighting against Bashar al-Assad inside the country and the Syrian dissidents residing in Europe and the United States, 140 members in total. The reason for the council’s establishment was to frame the unrest and coordinate the opposition policies against Syrian current leadership. Burhan Ghalioun, France-based sociologist and director of the Centre of Arab Studies at Sorbonne University, was elected as the council’s president. An opposition spokeswoman, Basma Kadmani, said the council’s main objective is to assist with toppling Assad within six months and to form an interim government thereafter.

The Syrian revolts commenced in early March and have been aiming at the definitive departure of president Bashar Al-Assad. Since then more than 2,000 people have died in the widespread anti-governmental protests that were met with overwhelming military force. While the rebels have been calling for democracy and freedom, Syrian tyrant reacted merely with statements on political reform.

Nabil Elaraby, the Arab League’s Secretary-General, called on Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad to start implementing the reforms and resolve the country’s six-month unrest deadlock. The League’s 22 members, that were silent on Syria before, have agreed to send a fact-finding delegation to Syria after the violence cease, the Socialist International informs. The latter, after having monitored the Syria tension since its outset, also urged President Assad to end his campaign of violence and affirmed its support with the protestors’ democracy aspirations.

Sources: RFE/RL, BBC News, Socialist International, Aljazeera, NPR Social Media