If the UK believes that an individual should take responsibilty for violence and repression against the Syrian people, according to good evidence, then the UK and EU partners shall take action to impose travel bans and the freezing of assets.
“Of the 74 Syrian military and intelligence officers named in the December Human Rights Watch report,” says Alistair Burt, of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, “17 are already subject to EU travel bans and a freeze on assets, including President Assad.”
According to the Rt. Hon. Burt, The UK declares that those accused of the most serious of international crimes must account for their actions. He said, “there must be no impunity and we will continue to work with our international partners to ensure this.”
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague, made clear in his statement on 1 December, that EU sanctions, agreed to date, targeted on President Assad, his regime and those who support them, aim to increase pressure on the Syrian regime to stop the continuing violent repression of the Syrian people. In light of this Mister Burt said: “I welcome these moves which send a clear message that the Syrian regime's actions have left it isolated.”
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