Switzerland eases some of its unilateral sanctions on Syria

Bern-SANA – The Federal Council relaxed some of its sanctions against Syria, with the intention of making it easier for humanitarian actors active in Syria to establish the business relationships necessary for their work. The amendments to the ordinance concerned will come into effect at 6pm on 3 March, the Swiss government said in a press release on Friday .

“The Ordinance of 8 June 2012 Imposing Measures against Syria prohibits the provision of money or economic resources to designated persons, entities or businesses. Until now, humanitarian actors receiving federal funding for their activities in Syria could obtain derogations from this rule for financial transactions necessary to provide humanitarian assistance or support to the civilian population. The Federal Council’s decision extends the humanitarian exceptions in order to facilitate humanitarian activities in Syria, including the response to the earthquake of 6 February 2023.”according to the press release.

It made it clear that the “Humanitarian actors in receipt of federal funding may now provide money and economic resources directly or indirectly to designated persons, entities and businesses, when necessary to provide humanitarian assistance or support to the civilian population”.

The government went on to say “In the case of humanitarian actors who do not receive federal funding, an exceptional authorisation scheme has been set up to provide economic resources to designated persons, businesses and entities, provided this involves humanitarian activities or the provision of aid to the civilian population in Syria”.

Switzerland had imposed unilateral sanctions on Syria in parallel with the sanctions imposed by the European Union in 201. But the Union announced on February 23 a temporary easing of these sanctions in order to facilitate the delivery of aid, according its statement.

The unilateral Western coercive measures caused great human suffering to the Syrian people, as they deprived them from their right to obtain food, medicine, and energy resources by preventing any financial transactions with Syrian banks. These sanctions also constitute a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of international law, and international humanitarian law.

ALI,Baraa