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Bush to impose sanctions on Syria
Washington, May 11: US President George W. Bush plans today to impose economic sanctions on Syria for allegedly supporting terrorism and failing to stop guerrillas from entering Iraq, people involved in the deliberations said.
Washington, May 11: US President George W. Bush plans today to impose economic sanctions on Syria for allegedly supporting terrorism and failing to stop guerrillas from entering Iraq, people involved in the deliberations said.
Congressional sources said Bush was expected to curb future investments by American energy firms in Syria and prohibit Syrian aircraft from flying into the United States.
Bush was also expected either to block transactions involving the Syrian government or to ban exports to Syria of US products other than food and medicine, the sources said.
The White House told key lawmakers late yesterday the announcement would be made on Tuesday, Congressional aides said, but a White House spokesman declined to comment on the timing.
Some lawmakers had complained that bush appeared to be appeasing Damascus by not implementing the penalties under the so-called Syria accountability act passed last year.
Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, and Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat, said they were preparing legislation for stiffer penalties on Syria and additional measures to isolate and weaken its government.
The Bush administration defended the delay, saying it needed time to devise a plan that would have a ''real impact'' on Damascus.
Officials said the administration was also concerned the sanctions could worsen tensions in the Middle East and wanted to wait until after a series of recent high-level meetings in Washington with Arab and Israeli leaders.
''We want to see Syria change their behavior,'' White House spokesman Scott Mcclellan said. ''These are serious matters.''
Bureau Report
Bush was also expected either to block transactions involving the Syrian government or to ban exports to Syria of US products other than food and medicine, the sources said.
The White House told key lawmakers late yesterday the announcement would be made on Tuesday, Congressional aides said, but a White House spokesman declined to comment on the timing.
Some lawmakers had complained that bush appeared to be appeasing Damascus by not implementing the penalties under the so-called Syria accountability act passed last year.
Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, and Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat, said they were preparing legislation for stiffer penalties on Syria and additional measures to isolate and weaken its government.
The Bush administration defended the delay, saying it needed time to devise a plan that would have a ''real impact'' on Damascus.
Officials said the administration was also concerned the sanctions could worsen tensions in the Middle East and wanted to wait until after a series of recent high-level meetings in Washington with Arab and Israeli leaders.
''We want to see Syria change their behavior,'' White House spokesman Scott Mcclellan said. ''These are serious matters.''
Bureau Report