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EU sanctions on Syria can be considered blockade, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported

Lavrov said unilateral sanctions of the U.S. and the EU against Syria run counter the previous agreements, reached within the U.N.

MOSCOW, July 25 (Itar-Tass) — EU unilateral sanctions against Syria can be considered the blockade, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday.

“Our position on unilateral sanctions is well-known. Russia does not recognise them and consider them counter-productive. Such sanctions cannot facilitate the normalisation of the situation in Syria and run counter the letter and spirit of the Kofi Annan Plan and the provisions of the ‘final communique’ of the Geneva Action Group,” the ministry said.

“In essence the EU measures can be considered the naval and air blockade of Syria,” the ministry stressed.

According to the ministry, the EU Council on Foreign Relations approved the 17th package of sanctions against Syria. “This package should be thoroughly studied how it corresponds to international law, particularly in the articles implying that EU member-countries oblige to inspect aircraft and ships of third countries if there is a suspicion that arms or equipment are transported to use against protesters,” the ministry said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said unilateral sanctions of the U.S. and the EU against Syria run counter the previous agreements, reached within the U.N.

“The EU latest sanctions against Syria run counter the previous agreements, including within the United Nations. The European Union and the United States have not held consultations with Russia by imposing such sanctions,” Lavrov said.

“At present, almost a year after the Syrian crisis, our West European partners in the Security Council and Americans said the U.N. Security Council must impose sanctions. This is wrong as minimum because if you want to act jointly, it will be necessary to discuss measures to influence those who are in war in Syria and those who resist the regime in Syria,” the Russian minister said.

“Unilateral measures have been chosen. We believe that this run counter collective principles and U.N. Security Council resolutions, which were adopted earlier. This runs counter the agreements, which were coordinated by the Action Group in Geneva,” he stressed.

Unilateral actions are counter-productive. “We come against unilateral sanctions. We seek to discuss any issues jointly,” Lavrov noted.

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