Online shopping sprees in Western department stores for Bashar al-Assad and his family appear to be a thing of the past, after the European Union imposed sanctions targeting his luxury lifestyle yesterday (Monday).
EU foreign ministers agreed to ban the export of luxury goods to Syria, alongside an embargo on any technology potentially used for repression, such as software for tracking dissidents through mobile phone and internet use.
William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary, said the sanctions were essential as the killing in Syria continued, with reports of 28 deaths at the hands of Syrian forces in Homs on Monday. "Recent reports of the continuing use of brutal military force are deeply concerning and it is vital the EU and its international partners keep up the pressure on Syria until we see a visible and sustained change in the regime's use of military force," he said.
Mr Hague said that despite the "urgent need for Assad to end the violence", he and his close supporters were still leading "comfortable lives".
Over the next 14 days, EU officials will draft sanctions banning the export of caviar, truffles, high-quality wines and spirits to Syria, as well as fashion accessories, perfumes, crystal and silverware, and pure-bred horses.
"The Assads, the regime's inner circle, Syria's wealthy and influential merchant class must be made to realise that events in Syria will impact on their personal lives," said an EU diplomat.
Leaked emails in March between President Assad and his wife, Asma, disclosed that Syria's ruling family spent huge sums during online shopping sprees, despite the killing of 9,000 people as the regime opposed civil dissent.
The EU has urged the Syrian government to allow the "operation and deployment - including air assets" of a United Nations mission to monitor a ceasefire.
"The EU remains deeply concerned about the fragility of the situation in Syria with reports of the use of heavy weaponry in civilian areas," read a statement agreed by EU foreign ministers.
The EU is also expected to follow United States' sanctions against companies helping Syria and Iran acquire technology for internet and mobile telephone surveillance. The US order, announced by President Barack Obama yesterday at a ceremony marking the Holocaust, freezes assets linked to people found to have aided satellite, computer and phone network monitoring in Syria. "We are haunted by the atrocities we did not stop," he said.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, announced yesterday that the deployment of 300 ceasefire monitors in Syria could start next week.
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