Syrian Ambassador in Washington and US sanctions on Syria
Syria-USA, Politics, 7/21/2004

Syria's Ambassador in Washington, Imad Mustafa, lessened effects of the American economic sanctions imposed on Syria, saying that these sanctions have only political harm and Syria is able to surmount them.

In an interview given to Damascus-based al-Thawra daily published on Tuesday, the Ambassador stressed "that there is a political damage and I believe it is bigger than the material one." "The material damage is economic, but not so huge. It is moral and psychological on a state that tries to liberate its economy and be opened to the world. We don't want to be in confrontation with a gigantic economic state as the U.S. it is a kind of economic distortion," he added.

He reiterated that sanctions can be surmounted "because each action has its reaction. We learned a lotÉSyria works on shifting its savings to Euro from Dollar."

He said that Syria is trying to accommodate herself while facing the current and possible effects of problems that the U.S. may impose.

He ruled out Syria to do anything that leads to the US administration's withdrawing of its sanctions, because that will be at the account of Syria's firm and national stances, pointing out that the U.S. asks Syria to do things that have no connection with the bilateral relations, but they are completely on the Israeli agenda that wants to be imposed on Syria.

He admitted the Arab media failure on the American arena, saying " We don't know well how to make our voice reach the American public opinion, while the US media is an aligned to Israel's media on the one hand and an open media on the other.

The Ambassador asserted that "Syria can make her voice be heard one way or another, or we can have a voice at least. But we need big effort to rehabilitate and train the Syrian media-men, who have skills in dialogue according to the American media's expressions."

He added that Syria has become aware of the importance of playing with the American media arena. "The Syrian Embassy in Washington is very active in this regard," he said.

The Ambassador indicated that September 11th events changed features of the Syrian community awareness in Washington. But Syria Accountability Act creates a very big feeling of unfairness.

He added that what happened in Iraq warned the Syrian community that the question is not a dispute on weapons of mass destruction or on disarmament of Iraq, but rather it "carries a deep evil and destruction to the region."

Previous Stories:
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  Syria: Draft law to punish the US   (6/19/2004)
  Washingon doubts Syria's calls for peace   (6/11/2004)

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