Syrien Aktuell Pressespiegel Mai 2009 1. Verlängerung der US-Sanktionen Parallel zu den Besuchen hochrangiger US-Diplomaten in Damaskus erklärte der amerikanische Präsident Barack Obama am 8. Mai die Verlängerung der von den USA über Syrien verhängten Sanktionen, welche am 11. Mai aus­gelaufen wären. Die staatliche Tageszeitung„Teshreen“ erklärte dazu in einem Leitartikel, die Strategie der Isola­tion, Blockade und Sanktionen der früheren US-Regierung hätten die Vereinigten Staaten in eine„ausweglose Sack­gasse“ gebracht. Washington könne die Richtung jedoch ändern, wenn es eine positive Rolle in der Verbreitung von Friedern, Sicherheit und Stabilität im Nahen Osten spiele. Die USA sollten von„törichten Strategien ablassen und sie durch Offenheit, Dialog, Diskussion und trans­parentes Vorgehen ersetzen“. Dies erfordere zuallererst „eine öffentliche und endgültige Abkehr von den Sank­tionen gegen Staaten und Personen“. Syrien engagiere sich in einem Dialog mit den Vereinigten Staaten und sei hoffnungsvoll, dass die neue Regierung unter Obama sich dem israelischen Druck nicht beugen und die alten Positionen gegenüber Syrien nicht beibehalten werde (Teshreen 10.05.2009). Sanctions renewed, but Syria understands “The renewal of sanctions, imposed by former pre­sident George W Bush in 2004, was not a surprise for the Syrians, who immediately dismissed it as a routine procedure. Far from being surprised, they realize that once sanctions become embedded in US law, it becomes very difficult to do away with them. Even if he so wished, Obama could not write off the sanctions, although he can turn a blind eye to some of them, as he has done this year. Shortly after assuming office, he allowed Boeing to sell spare parts to Syrian Airways and approved the channeling of funds from Syrian donors in the US to a non-govern­mental organization that assists children with cancer. The sanctions include the withdrawal of the US ambassador from Syria, a ban on Syrian flights to the US and a ban on US exports to Syria, except for food and medicine. A best-case scenario would have been for Obama to reduce sanctions – taking off some items authorized by Bush – in anticipation of removing them altogether, once peace is achieved between Syria and Israel. Until that happens, sanctions will only be removed in full if Syria cuts off its relationship with Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Damas­cus stresses cannot be done as long as the Golan Heights remain occupied by Israel.” Sami Moubayed, Asia Times 13.05.2009 US-Syria relations: time to hit the reset button? “If poverty leads to despair and terrorism, how can the U.S. justify economic sanctions on countries and expect this to help? In a newly released study, a typical Syrian household includes six people, living on an average of$318 a month. While the sanctions are by no means the sole reason for economic underachievement, it is not difficult for the populace to be convinced that it is in this predicament because of the country’s resistance and the resultant sanctions against them. The new President must lift the economic sanctions immediately. These have done nothing to harm the Syrian leadership. They have, however, turned more ordinary Syrians against the U.S. Washington must also stop referring to Damascus as a pariah state that is somehow different than the “moderate allies” in the shape of the governments