This morning, the official journal of the EU announced the seventh set of sanctions imposed on Syria. Two individuals and six companies were added to a list of people and entities facing assets freeze and travel ban. In addition to the earlier sanctions on importing or exporting energy products, an important prohibition on investment in the crude oil sector was made official. The delivery of Syrian banknotes and coins to the Central Bank of Syria is now also officially prohibited.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s sanctions continue to largely target Mr. Rami Makhlouf and the entities that he controls.\u00a0 The other notable target this time was Syria\u2019s official and non official media.\u00a0 Both the Information Minister and Addounia TV were hit with sanctions. This means that the channel will stop broadcasting on the Hotbird satellite and may also be banned from both Arab sat and Nile sat. The response of the Addounia management<\/a> was made available on the company’s website. The new E.U. sanctions were to be regarded as a medal of honor for being able to keep 27 European countries and its leaders busy enough to sanction a company that has believed that what is happening in Syria is a conspiracy and that these sanctions clearly illustrate that this is not just a media war but a global war targeting the basic existential needs of the Syrian people. The company promised its viewers that it will continue to expose the conspiracy and everything that harms the Syrian people.<\/p>\n As for Cham Holding which was also targeted today, the company is yet to make an official response. With a start-up capital of $360 millions, Cham Holding was launched in 2007 by the collaboration of 73 top Syrian investors.\u00a0 The new sanctions will put further pressure on this company that was already reeling from the recent change in its Board of Directors whose earlier Chair (Mr. Nabil Kuzbari) and Vice Chair (Mr. Rami Makhlouf) were both personally sanctioned. The new Board of Directors saw its new Vice Chair (Mr. Fares Al Chihabi) also get slapped with sanctions just recently.<\/p>\n Set below is a more detailed list of who was added to the sanctions and the official reason why:<\/p>\n Tayseer Qala Awwad (Minister of Justice)<\/strong><\/p>\n Associated with the Syrian regime, including by supporting its policies and practices of arbitrary arrest and detention.<\/p>\n Dr. Adnan Hassan Mahmoud (Minister of Information)<\/strong><\/p>\n Associated with the Syrian regime, including by supporting and promoting its information policy.<\/p>\n Addounia TV<\/strong><\/p>\n Has incited violence against the civilian population in Syria.<\/p>\n Cham Holding<\/strong><\/p>\n Controlled by Rami Makhlouf; largest holding company in Syria, benefiting from and supporting the regime.<\/p>\n El-Tel Co.<\/strong><\/p>\n Manufacturing and supplying telecommunication equipment for the Army.<\/p>\n Ramak Constructions Co.<\/strong><\/p>\n Construction of military barracks, border post barracks and other buildings for Army needs.<\/p>\n Souruh Company<\/strong><\/p>\n Investment in local military industrial projects, manufacturing weapons parts and related items. 100% of the company is owned by Rami Makhlouf.<\/p>\n Syriatel<\/strong><\/p>\n Controlled by Rami Makhlouf; provides financial support to the regime: through its licensing contract it pays 50% of its profits to the Government.<\/p>\n Staying on economic issues, the country\u2019s business community is in a state of confusion and anxiety over the recent decision to suspend the imports of cars and other items with 5 percent customs duties.\u00a0 Besides cars, no one is sure what the import ban will include. Many products carry customs duties of over 5% percent. What will be banned and what will be deemed a \u201cluxury\u201d is still open to speculation. The consensus is that a detailed list of the banned items will be released over the next few days.\u00a0 The business community cannot wait to find out. For now, an article by Reuters<\/a> quotes businessmen reporting\u00a0 no selling or buying amid fears that prices of existing foreign imports will now soar.<\/p>\n Syria: The revolution will be weaponised<\/a> – Aljazeera<\/p>\n Journalist Nir Rosen spent seven weeks travelling throughout Syria with unique access to all sides. He visited Daraa, Damascus, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo to explore the uprising and growing internal conflict. In the first article of his series he meets with leaders of the armed opposition in Homs.<\/p>\n Turkey seizes Syrian ship with weapons – PM Erdogan<\/a> – BBC<\/p>\n He did not say where or when the vessel was stopped, but vowed to confiscate any arms shipments for Syria coming through Turkish waters or airspace. Mr Erdogan has repeatedly criticised Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over his government’s violent crackdown on street protesters.<\/p>\n Arab leaders absent while Erdo?an talks to UN<\/a> – Hurriyet<\/p>\n The Arab people like us. But today, the policies of current rulers of the Arab countries are based on competing with each other and hampering each other. We should not take those who are giving us a pat on the shoulder too serious. Our politics should reflect our interests. There should be no room for emotions.<\/p>\n Erdogan: Assad Will Be Ousted “Sooner or Later”<\/strong><\/p>\n WASHINGTON – Syrian President Bashar Assad will be ousted “sooner or later” by his own people as the time of dictatorial rule fades around the world, Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan said. Erdogan, in an interview on CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” to be aired on Sunday, maintained his stern tone towards Israel and warned relations may “never become normal again” but he had warm words for US President Barack Obama as Turkey rises as a diplomatic power in the Middle East. “You can never remain in power through cruelty. You can never stand before the will of the people,” Erdogan said in a transcript released by CNN on Saturday. “This process might be extended a little bit more but sooner or later in Syria, if people take a different decision, that decision is going to be catered to. Such as in Egypt, such as in Tunisia, such as in Libya. People want to be free.”<\/p>\n Malek Jandali’s parents had fled to the United States<\/a> – CNN<\/p>\n The home of a Syrian musician’s family was ransacked this week, an act viewed as further intimidation by security forces angry at his views about the government. Malek Jandali, a renowned composer and pianist in Syria, told CNN Saturday that he learned from close sources that two armed security officers broke into his family’s Homs residence and looted and destroyed furniture. The house was empty because his parents had fled to the United States.<\/p>\n French envoy mobbed in Syria<\/a><\/p>\n (CNN) — France’s ambassador to Syria was attacked on Saturday morning in Damascus, the French Foreign Ministry said.
\nPeople threw stones and eggs at Eric Chevallier after he met with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignace IV in the Christian quarter of Damascus’s old city.<\/p>\n