Foreign Secretary welcomes extension of EU sanctions against Syrian regime
Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken after EU Foreign Ministers agreed further sanctions against the Syrian regime.
Speaking after the meeting in Luxembourg, the Foreign Secretary said:
鈥淭oday, we agreed as EU Foreign Ministers to give our full support to the deployment of a UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) of up to 300 unarmed observers. We supported the unanimous call from the UN Security Council for the Assad regime to end immediately its use of violence against civilians and implement fully its commitments under Kofi Annan鈥檚 Plan. Recent reports of the continuing use of brutal military force are deeply concerning and it is vital the EU and its international partners keep up the pressure on Syria until we see a visible and sustained change in the regime鈥檚 use of military force, and implementation of the Annan Plan.
鈥淓U Foreign Ministers also agreed to ban the export of further goods and technology which might be used for internal repression to Syria, which will include items that could be used to produce chemical or biological weapons.
鈥淒espite the urgent need for Assad to end the violence immediately, he and his close supporters continue to lead comfortable lives. Today the EU has also agreed to ban the export of luxury goods to Syria.
鈥淭he UK will continue to push for the EU and international partners to maintain the pressure on the Syrian regime, including through the Friends of Syria group.鈥�