US representatives oppose renewing Syria sanctions exemption
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Several United States representatives have sent a letter to US President Joe Biden voicing their “grave concern” over the possibility of extending Syria General License 23, which has eased sanctions on the Syrian government in response to the February 6 earthquake.
These representatives include Michael McCaul, Joe Wilson, James R. Baird, French Hill, Brian Mast, Thomas H. Kean Jr, Cory Mills, Keith Self and Aumua Amata Coleman Raewagen.
The license, which authorized direct transactions with the Assad regime for earthquake relief efforts for 180 days, “undermines the efficacy of our sanctions and, by extension, the prospects for accountability for the Syrian people,” the members wrote.
There are already existing exemptions that “cover a range of humanitarian activities, and provide sufficient flexibility to navigate the complex operating environment in Syria,” the letter read.
The representatives strongly urged Biden to allow the license to “expire on August 8 as intended in order to preserve the integrity of our Syria sanctions,” the letter concluded.