WASHINGTON –
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today is
lifting sanctions against former Prime Minister of Syria Riyad Hijab who recently severed his ties with the Assad
regime. This action is being taken because
Hijab is no longer a senior official of the Government of Syria. Hijab’s name will be removed from Treasury’s
Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons List, and he is no
longer subject to an asset freeze.
Since the uprising against
the Assad regime began last year, the United States has used a number of different
authorities to target and sanction those involved in human rights abuse in
Syria, senior Syrian government officials, and the Syrian government itself in
an effort to hasten the removal of the Assad regime from power and end the
government’s campaign of violence against the Syrian people.
“Recent civilian and military
defections from the Assad regime are further indications that the government is
crumbling and losing its grip on power,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and
Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. “The
United States encourages other officials within the Syrian government, in both
the political and military ranks, to take similarly courageous steps to reject
the Assad regime and stand with the Syrian people.”
On July 18, 2012, Treasury
designated 29 senior officials of the Syrian government, including Prime
Minister Riyad Hijab, pursuant to Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011
“Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria.” Three weeks later Hijab chose to defect from
the Syrian government and denounce its campaign of violence.
One of the goals of
identifying and levying sanctions on specific individuals is to encourage them
to reconsider their involvement with the current Syrian government. Today’s action illustrates the flexibility
and responsiveness of the U.S. sanctions regime, allowing a prompt response to
events on the ground. It is not too late
for others who continue to provide support to the Assad regime to sever their
ties and to be relieved of the burden of sanctions.
Newly appointed Prime
Minister Wael Nader Al-Halqi was designated by the Treasury Department in July
2012, in his previous position as the Minister of Health. The sanctions against Al-Halqi remain in
effect.
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