Written question asked by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Thursday, 8 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 March 2012. It was answered by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative) on Monday, 19 March 2012 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Syria

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure the effective implementation of the existing sanctions regime on Syria by (a) its neighbouring and (b) other countries.

Answer: We welcome the measures Turkey and the Arab League announced against the Syrian regime on 30 November and 3 December respectively, including travel bans and asset freezes against individuals in the Syrian regime, an arms embargo and suspension of links with the Central Bank of Syria. Arab League measures are non legally binding and so it is up to individual countries to decide how to implement them. We have lobbied Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan to implement fully the restrictive measures announced by the Arab League.We have additionally lobbied our international partners, including countries outside the region, to take all necessary steps to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions announced on the Syrian regime. We want to cut off the flow of funding and arms to the Syrian regime. In light of the EU ban on imports of Syrian oil, we have lobbied international partners not to purchase Syrian oil. We have raised with Russia at ministerial level our deep concerns over the supply of weapons to the Syrian regime by Russia.

Secondary information