EU extends sanctions on Syrian regime

BRUSSELS, May 29 (KUNA) -- The European Union decided Monday to extend its sanctions against the Syrian regime until June first of 2018, saying that the 28-member bloc will maintain its sanctions against the Syrian regime and its supporters as long as the repression of civilians continues.
At the same time, the EU added to its sanctions list three ministers of the Syrian government, and updated the information related to certain persons and entities on the list.
An EU statement noted that now the sanctions list includes 240 persons and 67 entities targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze over the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria.
The sanctions currently in place against Syria include an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments, and a freeze of the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU and export restrictions on equipment and technology that might be used for internal repression, as well as on equipment and technology for monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications. The EU statement stressed that that there can be no military solution to the conflict and strongly supported the work of the UN Special Envoy and the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva. (end) nk.gta