Arab League ready to impose sanctions on Syria

The Arab League yesterday has announced unprecedented economic sanctions to be imposed on Syria. The decisions which were taken on foreign and finance ministerial levels over the weekend were accepted with approval of 19 out of 22 countries during a meeting of foreign ministers of Arab League which was also joined by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday. President of the Arab League and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani said that the sanctions which were accepted would immediately enter into force and that other forces could intervene, in case the Arab countries fail to solve the problems suffered by Syria. Davutoglu, who was in Cairo to attend the meeting, made a statement following the approval of decision, saying that nobody should expect Turkey or the Arab League to remain silent, when civilian and innocent people are killed and increasingly tortured by the Syrian regime. Davutoglu added that Turkey supported the decisions taken by the Arab League. "We hope that the Syrian administration understands our message and we could solve the problem within our family. I also wish that the pain suffered with Iran in Libya won't repeat again in Syria," said Davutoglu. Among sanctions to be imposed on Syria are halting the flights to and from Syria, imposing a commercial embargo except fundamental foodstuff and certain goods needed by the Syrian people, freezing the assets of top Syrian officials abroad, suspending the relations with the Syrian Central Bank, halting the financial affairs with Syria and transactions with the Commercial Bank of Syria.