Syria talks with Arab League about observers
Source: Agencies |
December 5, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SYRIA said yesterday that it is negotiating with the Arab League to allow observers into the country, as Arab leaders prepare to tighten sanctions slapped on the government for its crackdown on an eight-month-old uprising.
Arab leaders have given Syria a new deadline - yesterday - to respond to the League peace plan, which calls for the admission of observers to prevent violence against protesters.
Syria's failure to meet a November 25 deadline to allow observers saw the imposition of a raft of measures, including a ban on dealings with the country's central bank.
In addition to sanctions imposed by Western countries, the Arab measures may deal significant damage to Syria's economy and may undercut the government's authority.
Syria is now signaling that it might still be willing to comply with the Arab League's peace plan, and that its objections to the plan are simply a matter of details.
"Messages are being exchanged between Syria and the Arab League to reach a certain vision that would facilitate the mission of observers in Syria, while preserving Syrian interests and sovereignty," Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said in Damascus.
Qatar's premier said on Saturday during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in the Gulf country's capital Doha that he expected Syrian envoys to sign a pact yesterday.
Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al Thani said that a deal failure may lead to UN involvement in the Syrian crisis, although he did not spell out what that meant.
Arab ministers have continued to meet to work out enforcement of the existing sanctions package.
Some sanctions - the central bank ban, a halt to Arab government funding of projects in Syria, and a freezing of Syrian government assets - went into effect immediately.
Saturday's Arab ministerial meeting was intended to work out more details of the sanctions, including a list of 19 Syrian officials subject to a travel ban.
Arab leaders have given Syria a new deadline - yesterday - to respond to the League peace plan, which calls for the admission of observers to prevent violence against protesters.
Syria's failure to meet a November 25 deadline to allow observers saw the imposition of a raft of measures, including a ban on dealings with the country's central bank.
In addition to sanctions imposed by Western countries, the Arab measures may deal significant damage to Syria's economy and may undercut the government's authority.
Syria is now signaling that it might still be willing to comply with the Arab League's peace plan, and that its objections to the plan are simply a matter of details.
"Messages are being exchanged between Syria and the Arab League to reach a certain vision that would facilitate the mission of observers in Syria, while preserving Syrian interests and sovereignty," Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said in Damascus.
Qatar's premier said on Saturday during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in the Gulf country's capital Doha that he expected Syrian envoys to sign a pact yesterday.
Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al Thani said that a deal failure may lead to UN involvement in the Syrian crisis, although he did not spell out what that meant.
Arab ministers have continued to meet to work out enforcement of the existing sanctions package.
Some sanctions - the central bank ban, a halt to Arab government funding of projects in Syria, and a freezing of Syrian government assets - went into effect immediately.
Saturday's Arab ministerial meeting was intended to work out more details of the sanctions, including a list of 19 Syrian officials subject to a travel ban.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
