Canada Further Tightens Sanctions Against Assad Regime

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today emerged from the third Friends of the Syrian People meeting and issued the following statement:

“The daily assault on the people of Syria by the Assad regime continues to throw this country into further chaos.

“Canada is horrified by Assad’s lack of respect for human life and is responding with additional measures to further isolate and increase pressure on the regime.

“Canada is imposing prohibitions against the export of goods and technology that could be used to further repress the people of Syria. As well, Canada is prohibiting the export of goods that could be used to produce chemical and biological weapons, beyond those already controlled by Canada.

“We are also adding the Syria International Islamic Bank and the Syrian National Security Bureau to the list of individuals and entities subject to a prohibition on dealings under existing Canadian sanctions.

“Our expanded sanctions aim to target the regime, not the Syrian people.

“We continue to call on the United Nations Security Council to adopt tough, binding sanctions.

“The actions of the Assad regime are completely unacceptable, and the world desperately needs to speak with one voice condemning these abhorrent actions.”

For more information, please visit Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations.