Brasília – This Monday (28th), the European Union announced that it will increase its sanctions on Syria, including greater restrictions on trade of oil, gas and derivatives, in addition to financial limitations. The objective is to pressure the Syrian president, Bashar Al Assad, to end violent repression in his country.
The European Union had previously approved a set of economic and commercial sanctions on Syria. The proposal to increase the sanctions will be voted on on December 1st by the ministers of foreign affairs of the 27 countries that comprise the bloc. To the French foreign minister, Alain Juppé, Assad’s regime’s “days are numbered.”
This Monday (27th), the League of Arab States, which congregates 23 nations, approved economic and commercial sanctions and even the suspension of flights between Syria and the Arab countries. “(The Syrian regime’s) days are numbered, that is obvious. It is totally isolated today,” said Juppé.
For eight months now, Assad has been the target of protests in Syria. The protesters call for elections, the end of the current administration, which has lasted 11 years, greater freedom of expression, freedom and press, and an end to human rights violations. Protesters are being met with violent repression.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
