EU Ramps Up Sanctions Against Assad Regime
The European Union approved tighter sanctions "against Syria's energy and financial sectors in response to President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on dissidents," diplomats said. In a joint statement by foreign ministers "the EU reiterates its condemnation in the strongest terms of the ...
Turkey Imposes Sanctions on Syria
Today Turkey's Foreign Minister announced that Turkey would "suspend all financial dealings with Syria and freeze the assets of Bashar al-Assad's government as part of sanctions against its former ally." The sanctions are designed to target the Syrian leadership ...
Lebanon: PM Funds Hariri Case; Enforces Syria Sanctions
Lebanon's Prime Minsiter Najib Mikati said he transferred funding to the U.N. backed court investigating the assisnation of former PM Rafik Hariri. The $36 million of required funding for the Netherlands-based court was made on Wednesday, as Mikati stated “it ...
November 30, 2011
Category: Arab League, Featured, Government, Justice, Lebanon, Reform, Rule of Law, sanctions, Syria, United Nations
U.S. Pressures Syria, Russia Won’t Support Arms Embargo
As violence escalates in Syria with reports documenting mass atrocities, international pressure has mounted on Syria to end its violent crackdown on demonstrators. The U.S. and E.U. called on the Syrian government to “end violence immediately" and to ...
November 29, 2011
Category: Featured, Government, Human Rights, Public Opinion, Reform, Rule of Law, sanctions, Syria, Turkey, US foreign policy
November 25, 2011
Category: Arab League, Government, Human Rights, Military, Multilateralism, Protests, Rule of Law, sanctions, Syria
November 20, 2011
Category: Arab League, Government, Human Rights, Political transition, Reform, Rule of Law, sanctions, Syria
November 19, 2011
Category: Arab League, Government, Human Rights, Political transition, Protests, Reform, Rule of Law, sanctions, Syria
November 16, 2011
Category: Arab League, Featured, Government, Human Rights, Military, Multilateralism, Political transition, Protests, Reform, Rule of Law, sanctions, Syria
Arab League Suspends Syria
The Arab League voted on Saturday to suspend Syria from all activities until the Syrian government implements a plan to end the violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. The League also threatened economic and political sanctions if President ...
November 12, 2011
Category: Arab League, Freedom, Government, Human Rights, Political transition, Protests, Rule of Law, sanctions, Syria, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: Hearing on U.S. Policy Towards Syria
On Wednesday, Chairman of the U.S. Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA) chaired a hearing regarding U.S. Policy Towards Syria and potential future action the United State Congress and the U.S. Government at large could take to further push President Bashar Al’Assad from power. The Honorable Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Sectreary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of ...
November 10, 2011
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Category: Arab League, Event Notes, Freedom, Government, Hezbollah, Human Rights, International Law, Justice, Media, Political transition, Protests, Reform, sanctions, Syria, UN Security Council, United Nations, US foreign policy
November 3, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Featured, Freedom, Human Rights, International Law, Iran, Libya, sanctions, US foreign policy, US politics
POMED Notes: “Syria: The Battle for Democracy and Change”
On Friday, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy hosted Andrew Tabler, distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and via Skype, Ambassador Robert Ford, the current American ambassador to Syria. Robert Satloff, executive director at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy, introduced the discussion. Both Tabler and Ford gave brief speeches and then spent the majority of the time taking questions from the audience. For full event notes, ...
October 18, 2011
Category: DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Event Notes, Freedom, Government, Kurds, Multilateralism, Political transition, Protests, Reform, sanctions, Syria, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: “Voices from the Frontlines: A Discussion with the SNC”
On Thursday the United States Institute of Peace hosted four members of the newly formed Syria National Council for a discussion of the current status of the Syrian opposition and it’s future. The panel discussion was moderated by Steven Heydemann, Senior Advisor for Middle East Initiatives at USIP. Panelists included: Najib Ghadbian, associate professor at the University of Arkansas, Murhaf Jouejati, professor of Middle East studies at the National Defense ...
October 16, 2011
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Category: DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Event Notes, Human Rights, Political transition, POMED, Protests, Public Opinion, sanctions, Syria, United Nations, US foreign policy
Rogin: Obama Administration Seeks to Further Isolate Iran
Josh Rogin writes in Foreign Policy that the Obama administration is "asking countries around the world to stop letting Iranian leaders stop by for official visits," and to tighten sanctions and pressure on Iran. Undersecretary of State for Political ...
October 14, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Featured, Government, Iran, Multilateralism, sanctions, US foreign policy, US politics
Analysis: Turkey’s Syria Sanctions: “A Soft Start”
In al-Akhbar, Timur Goksel argues that "the much touted unilateral sanctions Turkey plans to impose on Syria are likely to be 'soft sanctions,' keeping the door open for a future rapprochement." Regardless of whether the sanctions are indeed "soft," "the latest remarks by Erdogan and his colleagues are signs that they have given up on the Assad regime." Goksel writes that Turkey will have to reconcile its plans for unilateral ...
October 11, 2011
Category: Featured, Government, Political transition, Reform, sanctions, Syria, UN Human Rights Council, UN Security Council, United Nations
POMED Notes: “NIAC Policy Briefing on the Impact of Sanctions on Iran, the U.S., and the Global Economy”
Today NIAC held a policy briefing at the House of Representatives to discuss the impact of sanction on Iran and their potential repercussions for both the United States and the world economy. Barbara Slavin, a senior fellow at The Atlantic Council specializing in Iran moderated the discussion. The panel consisted of three participants, including: Bijan Khajehpour, chairman and co-founder of the Atieh Group of Companies, Robert Pape, political scientist and ...
October 6, 2011
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Category: Democracy Promotion, Event Notes, Freedom, Government, Iran, POMED, sanctions
CFR Launches Online Interactive Iran “Crisis Guide”
The Council on Foreign Relations launched a new online interactive "Crisis Guide" to Iran. The portal features a timeline of Iranian history, traces its "evolution as an Islamic republic," and outlines "the controversial nuclear program." The resource also offers information on Iran's role in the region as well as internal dynamics. Finally, the Crisis Guide presents multimedia illustrations of policy options, including sanctions, opposition support, public diplomacy, covert action, and ...
Syria: New U.N. Resolution, Turkey Drafts Sanctions
Several E.U. powers plan to draft a new U.N. resolution, dropping the immediate calls for sanctions against Syria. Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal are proposing a scaled-back resolution aimed at appeasing the "BRICS" bloc in the U.N., that will threaten ...
September 28, 2011
Category: International Law, Multilateralism, sanctions, Syria, Turkey, United Nations