AfD politicians pass resolution to lift EU sanctions against Syria

Sputnik
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 20:24 UTC

© AP Photo / Jens Meyer

Bjoern Hoecke, chairman of the Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) in the German state of Thuringia, leaves after a press statement in Erfurt, central Germany, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party is continuing its efforts to repatriate Syrian refugees, formally urging the German federal government and the EU to lift their debilitating economic sanctions against the Arab Republic.

Earlier this month at a party convention in Augsburg, AfD politicians passed a resolution calling for the lifting of EU economic sanctions against Syria in a bid to aid Damascus' ongoing efforts to stabilize the entirety of the country and provide adequate public services, according to a party press release sent to Sputnik reporter Suliman Mulhem.

The resolution was submitted by Dr. Christian Blex and a number of other party officials who visited Syria in March to assess the situation on the ground for themselves.

Presenting the resolution at a party conference, Bundestag member Dr. Blex warned of the detrimental effects of the sanctions on the availability of healthcare for Syrians who decided to remain in their home country, especially those on low incomes and with limited resources to seek treatment abroad.

"They [the sanctions] target human beings who the European states allegedly want to protect. The EU sanctions against Syria are a cause of flight; its removal would even benefit Germany's economy," Dr. Blex said.

"We demand Germany be no longer complicit in the sanctions, which are an instrument of power against the current government. A prolongation of the suffering of the Syrian people to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad is incompatible with AfD-principles and not in the German national interest," the resolution reads.

Moreover, the resolution called on the German government and the EU itself to reinstate diplomatic relations with Damascus to "find a solution which secures the country's peaceful rebuilding process," highlighting that rebuilding Syria and reviving its national economy is firmly in Germany's interests, as it's necessary for the repatriation of Syrian migrants.

AfD members also passed a resolution on July 1 condemning the tripartite aggression by the UK, US and France against Syria earlier this year as a "violation of international law."

The coordinated strikes were carried in retaliation to an alleged chemical attack which was blamed on the Syrian government, despite Damascus staunchly denying any involvement and having no motive to carry out such an attack.

Comment: UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures Idriss Jazairy told Sputnik that he proposed to establish a special mechanism under the auspices of the United Nations, through which Damascus would be able to discuss the easing of the Western sanctions against Syria.

"I would like to propose the creation of a technical working group, with representatives from all parties placing sanctions on Syria, to find a way to enable sellers, financial intermediaries and humanitarians in Syria to do the work that is so desperately needed. One recommendation of this group could be the creation of a procurement office under the UN in Syria, that could quickly find solutions as they arise, and which could give comfort to banks and sellers that transactions being carried out would not violate any sanction regime," Jazairy said.