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US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner
WASHINGTON, June 6 (KUNA) -- US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner hoped on
Wednesday that all countries join in taking economic actions against the
Syrian regime, including Chapter 7 action in the United Nations Security
Council.
"We, the United States, hope that all responsible countries will soon join
in taking appropriate economic actions against the Syrian regime, including,
if necessary, Chapter 7 action in the UN Security Council, as called for by
the Arab League last weekend", said Geithner in remarks before the Friends of
the Syrian People International Working Group on sanctions.
He added, "Absent meaningful compliance by the regime with the Annan plan,
that is the direction in which we are soon headed. But in the meantime, we
gather here as Friends of the Syrian People", noting that "as Friends of the
Syrian People, our task is to impose maximum financial pressure on the Assad
regime and its supporters, as quickly as we can and as effectively as we can,
to stop their violence and to yield to conscience and to peaceful political
change."
He noted that strong sanctions, if effectively implemented and aggressively
enforced, could help deprive the Syrian regime of the resources it needs to
sustain itself and to continue its repression of the Syrian people.
Also, strong sanctions would make clear to the Syrian business community
and other supporters of the regime that their future is bleak so long as the
Assad regime remains in power, pointed out Giethner, adding that strong
sanctions can help hasten the day the Assad regime relinquishes power.
Geithner said that his country sees no justification for allowing senior
members of the Assad regime to have the benefit of accessing the global
financial system.
"We see no justification for allowing unauthorized funds to flow to the
Central Bank of Syria, the Commercial Bank of Syria, or any other financial
institution that acts on behalf of this regime. We see no justification for
allowing individuals who provide financial support to the regime to be allowed
to use foreign banks," explained Geithner.
"The greatest threat to the well-being of the Syrian people is the regime
in power there today. And the longer this regime remains in power, the more
the Syrian people will suffer. The longer Assad's brutality persists, the
greater the likelihood of further bloodshed and the greater the risk to a
fragile region that is important to the world," he concluded.
Co-chaired by the Government of Qatar and the Government of Turkey, this
is the second meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People International
Working Group on sanctions attended by more than 55 nations. (end)
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