EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS moved to intensify pressure on Syria by banning oil imports from the country, measures which came as President Bashar al-Assad’s troops fired again on anti-government protesters.
The sanctions came as EU foreign ministers gathered in Sopot, Poland, to discuss how Europe can assist Libya’s new rulers. They have set that process in motion by starting to lift sanctions against the country’s ports and oil companies.
Syrian activists said security forces fired on thousands of protesters and surrounded mosques in southern and eastern cities to prevent worshippers from joining rallies on the streets.
While there has been no shortage of condemnation from Europe against the regime’s crackdown against the protesters, EU countries have adopted a more cautious approach to the Syrian uprising than to the Libyan rebellion. This reflects sensitivity over the country’s strategic location in the Middle East.
In contrast to the readiness with which some of the major European powers sought a no-fly zone over Libya, there is no appetite for a military intervention in Syria.
“Assad either has to implement reform or go,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore.
Asked whether it was too late for him to introduce reforms, Mr Gilmore said: “What’s important here is the end result. What has been happening in Syria hasn’t been acceptable and isn’t acceptable to the EU and isn’t acceptable to us as a country.”
Mr Gilmore said it was for the International Criminal Court to decide whether to prosecute regime members of the regime but said there should be accountability for leaders who “turn the screw on their own people.”
The new penalties against the al-Assad regime have potential to cut off some €3 billion in annual oil revenues from the main European importers of Syrian oil: Italy, Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands and Spain.
Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini received an exemption from the sanctions until November, arguing his country’s oil groups need time to source alternative supplies.
A further consideration is that Italy was a heavy importer of Libyan oil, cut off by sanctions which are now set to be gradually removed.
The grace period led to some complaints, however, that the impact of the sanctions would be diluted.
“The prohibition concerns purchase, import and transport of oil and other petroleum products from Syria,” EU governments said. “No financial or insurance services may be provided for such transactions.”
Four as yet unnamed individuals connected with the regime have been banned from travel in Europe and the assets of three companies have been frozen.