Sanctions

The list of Syrian officials sanctioned by the European Union on May 23 includes businessman Mohammad Hamsho as well as several security and political figures.

The European Union has announced an asset freeze and travel ban on a number of Syrian personalities, including Rami Makhlouf, one of the country’s most prominent businessmen.

The Security and Exchange Commission is enhancing its efforts to enforce the ban on the exports of US technological products to Syria, a move that appears to contradict the recent announcement by the White House that it would grant more easily export l...

The US Congress is preparing a new legislation to ban international air carriers from landing at Damascus International Airport (DIA).

Ford Motor, the second largest American car manufacturer, was investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission last July for operations in Syria, it appears from a letter released only on November 24th by the SEC.

Syria criticized on January 19 a move by the US Treasury to freeze the assets of Syria’s military intelligence chief Assef Shawkat as biased to protect Israeli interests. 

By Samir AITA*

One would imagine that the atmosphere in Syria is very heavy after the application of the sanctions ordered by the US President, followed by the US Treasury's accusations that the Commercial Bank of Syria is acting as a conduit for money laundering operations, and the EU's announcement that it is postponing the signature of its partnership with Syria.

After initially denying the impact of the US sanctions, state officials and the media have tended to provide a more rational view of their consequences.

Pressures on Syria from the US have appeared to calm down in the last month, although it could be only a temporary respite.

New York City's comptroller, its chief fiscal officer, is to put forward resolutions to ask three major US companies, Halliburton Co., ConocoPhillips and General Electric Co., to stop doing business with both Syria and Iran.