Norway aligns itself with tougher EU sanctions against Syria

The civil war in Syria is escalating, with fighting in central parts of Damascus and Aleppo, and a growing death toll. This underscores the need to find a rapid solution to the conflict, in line with Kofi Annan’s six-point plan.

Norway therefore aligns itself with the new EU sanctions that were introduced today and seek to stop all deliveries of weapons to Syria. The measures also include a freeze on assets and travel restrictions for 26 persons and three companies that are directly linked to the use of violence by the authorities against the country’s population.

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “Syria is caught up in a spiral of violence that is having terrible humanitarian consequences. The international community must do what it can to stop this tragedy. Norway will continue to support measures that put pressure on the regime in Damascus to comply with its obligations under the Annan plan. We are therefore aligning ourselves with the more stringent measures adopted by the EU to intercept deliveries of weapons destined for Syria.”

Norway is deeply disappointed that the UN Security Council once again has failed to reach agreement on a binding resolution on international sanctions against Syria. It is important to ensure that the UN continues to have a role in Syria, with a view to paving the way for a political process that can bring about democratic rule. We therefore welcome the extension of the UN observer mission, UNSMIS. We also commend Major General Robert Mood for the huge effort he has made as head of UNSMIS under extremely difficult circumstances.