Canada extends sanctions against Syria as crackdown continues
Posted August 13, 2011 4:29 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Canada’s foreign minister is acknowledging that diplomatic measures have failed to end the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Syria, but said the west remains committed to stopping the bloodshed.
John Baird announced Saturday that Canada was extending sanctions imposed on President Bashar Assad’s government in May.
The government will freeze the assets of additional individuals and entities linked to Assad, Baird said. Additional members of Assad’s government are banned from travelling to Canada.
But the Canadian sanctions are considered largely symbolic _ Canada’s exports to Syria are worth only about $60 million a year, and it receives less than a tenth of that in imports.
Baird admits the measures imposed by Canada, the U.S. and other countries haven’t worked, but said Canada and its allies are prepared to ramp up the pressure.
“We’re very committed to this and we’ll continue to work with our allies and reach out to others to take more significant action,” he said in a conference call from Mexico City where he is meeting with government officials.
Baird didn’t hint on what additional measures Canada would consider or when further steps might be taken. He said Canada has no immediate plans to recall its ambassador to Damascus, saying both the government thinks it’s useful to maintain a presence in Syria.
“I think we’ll leave our ambassador in Damascus as long as we think there’s a value to doing that,” he said. “I think it is important that for the time-being that Canada keep our ambassador there.”
Syrian activists say at least 1,700 civilians have been killed in the government crackdown on protesters in the past five months.
The violence has generated increase pressure on the Assad regime to end the violence, Baird said.
“There’s been significant movement in the Arab world in condemnations from a number of not just Arab leaders but others in the Arab world so the chorus is getting louder,” he said.
Earlier this week U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for a global trade embargo on oil and gas from Syria.
She also urged the international community to cut links with the Assad regime.
