Top U.S. Official to Discuss Syria Sanctions in Beirut
A senior U.S. official will on Monday launch a three-country campaign to firm up sanctions against Syria and to tackle transnational organized crime, the U.S. Treasury Department said.
Assistant Secretary Daniel Glaser will travel to Beirut, Moscow and Amman for a week-long visit.
In Lebanon and Jordan, Glaser is expected to press the authorities to "remain vigilant against attempts by the Syrian regime to evade U.S. and EU sanctions."
The financial sectors of both nations are seen by Washington as a possible avenue for Syria to circumvent international sanctions.
On August 17 U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order authorizing sanctions against the Syrian regime because of what the White House termed a "continuing escalation of violence against the people of Syria."
The sanctions froze all Syrian government property in the United States and banned U.S. citizens from doing new business with the country, or importing petroleum products.
And on August 10 the U.S. imposed sanctions on Syria's largest commercial bank, the state-owned Commercial Bank of Syria, and its Lebanon-based subsidiary.
The Lebanese subsidiary denied Washington’s "unfounded political allegations" that it dealt with North Korea and Iran.
"Since the establishment of our institution, we have never had any operation with either a North Korean or an Iranian entity even before the existing sanctions," the Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank said.
"As a result, we deny all accusation of being involved in any illegal activity with any suspected country," a statement added.
The United States Treasury had charged that the Commercial Bank of Syria allegedly supported Syria and North Korea's efforts to spread weapons of mass destruction.
It froze the U.S. assets of the businesses targeted and prohibited U.S. entities from engaging in any business dealings with the two banks.
In Moscow Glaser is expected to discuss "the threat posed by transnational criminal organizations."
Source: Agence France Presse, Naharnet
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