Syria says U.S. sanctions 'unfair and illogical'
Reuters
Date: 05-07-05
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria's finance minister expressed regret on Saturday that President Bush had decided to extend Washington's sanctions on Syria for another year, the official Syrian news agency reported.
Bush extended a ban on Thursday on certain U.S. imports to Syria and other sanctions imposed last May. He said the Arab country was a threat to the United States.
Finance Minister Mohammad al-Hussein, who was speaking at a news conference to announce tax cuts, did not comment on the U.S. accusations but said Washington's sanctions were "unfair and illogical," the Syrian Arab News Agency said.
Hussein said his country would "continue to exert efforts for reform in the area of economy and other areas."
He announced a cut in taxes on car imports from 255 to 60 percent on vehicles with medium and large engines, a step that is expected to facilitate the signing of a long-planned aid and trade agreement with the European Union.
The U.S. sanctions severed banking relations with the state-owned Commercial Bank of Syria and froze the assets of Syrians suspected of involvement in terrorism or WMD development.
Washington accuses the Arab state of supporting terrorism, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and undermining efforts to stabilize Iraq. Syria denies the charges.
Bush said on Thursday Syria's policies "continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States.
Traditionally tense Syrian-U.S. ties are at their worst, mainly because of strong Syrian opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the Feb. 14 killing of a Lebanese former prime minister in Beirut, which many Lebanese blamed on Syria.
Bush recalled the U.S. ambassador to Damascus after the massive car bomb attack that killed Rafik al-Hariri, in which Syria says it had no role.
Syria withdrew its forces from Lebanon last month, ending a 29-year military presence under pressure from the international community and anti-Syrian protests in its tiny neighbor.
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