Syria Calls the Arab League’s Sanctions ‘Economic War’

(Louai Beshara/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images) Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad carried his portrait during a demonstration in Damascus on Monday, the day after the Arab League imposed sanctions.

By NEIL MacFARQUHAR
NYT

DAMASCUS, Syria — The Arab League declared “economic war” on Syria when it leveled broad trade sanctions against it, Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, said on Monday, warning that the country could use its strategic location to retaliate.

“Syria cannot be treated like this,” Mr. Moallem said at a news conference broadcast live around the region. He was by turns indignant and incredulous that the Arab League had turned the tool of sanctions, which it had long reviled, on one of its own.

“Sanctions can cut both ways,” he said. And while he contended that he did not want to threaten anyone, he said, “We should study well Syria’s geographic location as a transit point for commercial traffic.”

Many airlines cross Syrian airspace, Mr. Moallem noted. In addition, Syria is part of the main route for heavy trucks heading from Europe and Turkey to the Persian Gulf, where Qatar and Saudi Arabia are among Syria’s harshest critics.

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