WASHINGTON, May 7. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden has extended unilateral sanctions against Syria by one more year, reads the notice issued by the White House on Thursday.
The notice refers to various restrictions which were gradually imposed by Washington against Damascus between 2004 and 2012. These sanctions particularly include freezing of assets of certain people and legal entities in the US as well as a ban on exports of certain categories of American goods and services to Syria.
"The Syrian regime’s actions and policies, including with respect to chemical weapons and supporting terrorist organizations, pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. As a result, the national emergency declared on May 11, 2004, and the measures [adopted in light of this] <…> must continue in effect beyond May 11, 2021. Therefore, <…> I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared with respect to the actions of the Government of Syria," the notice reads.
The notice also stresses that the Syrian leadership allows "brutal violence and human rights violations and abuses." "The United States calls on the Assad regime and its backers to stop its violent war against its own people, enact a nationwide ceasefire, enable the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian assistance to all Syrians in need, and negotiate a political settlement in Syria in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254," the White House added.
"The United States will consider changes in policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the future," the US administration concluded.