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Are US sanctions on Syria working? Are US sanctions against Syria working?
(about 2 hours later)
The financial sector has been hit by sanctions against Syria's commercial bankThe financial sector has been hit by sanctions against Syria's commercial bank
As the US names its first ambassador to Syria in five years, the BBC's Lina Sinjab in Damascus examines the effect of US sanctions against the country. As the US names its first ambassador to Syria in five years, the BBC's Lina Sinjab, in Damascus, examines the effect of US sanctions against the country.
Syria's national air carrier, Syrianair, now has just three aircraft that are safe to fly.Syria's national air carrier, Syrianair, now has just three aircraft that are safe to fly.
It is banned under US sanctions from importing spare parts to service its planes, which are made by the American company Boeing.It is banned under US sanctions from importing spare parts to service its planes, which are made by the American company Boeing.
Sixteen aircraft have been taken out of service since the 1990s.Sixteen aircraft have been taken out of service since the 1990s.
And Syrianair cannot even buy new planes from Airbus - which, although a European company, uses American components and so, too, is barred from selling to Syria.And Syrianair cannot even buy new planes from Airbus - which, although a European company, uses American components and so, too, is barred from selling to Syria.
'Hit hard''Hit hard'
The sanctions also affect the hi-tech sector. Abdul Ghani Attar imports IBM computers into Syria. The sanctions also affect the hi-tech sector.
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal operates freely in DamascusHamas leader Khaled Meshaal operates freely in Damascus
He says the sanctions have hit his business "very hard". Abdul Ghani Attar imports IBM computers into Syria and says the sanctions have hit his business "very hard".
"The sanctions affect laptops, software, technically none of these are allowed to be directly imported... we have to get all these products through a third country," he says. "The sanctions affect laptops, software - technically none of these are allowed to be directly imported... we have to get all these products through a third country," he says.
The banking sector has also been affected by restrictions on some bank transfers and a specific bar on transactions with the country's commercial bank.The banking sector has also been affected by restrictions on some bank transfers and a specific bar on transactions with the country's commercial bank.
No breakthroughNo breakthrough
But Sami Mubayyed, Editor-in-Chief of Forward Magazine - a publication that tends to toe the government line - believes that the restrictions have succeeded only in damaging America's image in Syria. But Sami Mubayyed, editor-in-chief of Forward Magazine, a publication that tends to toe the government line, believes that the restrictions have succeeded only in damaging the image of the US in Syria.
"These sanctions have failed politically to change Syria 's behaviour or alliances, but have succeeded in other ways. They are very damaging to perceptions of America here." "These sanctions have failed politically to change Syria's behaviour or alliances, but have succeeded in other ways. They are very damaging to perceptions of America here."
Mr Attar says he has to buy US computers via third countriesMr Attar says he has to buy US computers via third countries
There's no real shortage of small consumer goods which are easily bought in third countries and brought back to Syria. There is no real shortage of small consumer goods, which are easily bought in third countries and brought back to Syria, but not everyone can afford them.
But not everyone can afford them - some models of mobile phone can cost more three times the price they would in the US, for example. Some models of mobile phone can cost more than three times the price they would in the US, for example.
They are brought in from - or made by - countries other than the US.They are brought in from - or made by - countries other than the US.
The Obama administration - which has made efforts to engage diplomatically with Syria in contrast to the isolationist stance of President Bush - says it is trying to be more flexible, waiving the rules on the import of certain goods. The Obama administration, which has made efforts to engage diplomatically with Syria in contrast to the isolationist stance of President Bush, says it is trying to be more flexible by waiving the rules on the purchase of certain goods.
But the bulk of the sanctions are enshrined in US law. However, the bulk of the sanctions are enshrined in US law.
The current Congress is unlikely to lift them unless there is a breakthrough in relations between the two countries on the biggest issues that divide them - and that seems as far away as ever.The current Congress is unlikely to lift them unless there is a breakthrough in relations between the two countries on the biggest issues that divide them - and that seems as far away as ever.
'Building bridges''Building bridges'
The United States wants Syria to shift its alliances, especially with Iran, and its support to the Islamic militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas, whose leader Khaled Meshaal lives freely in Syria. The US wants Syria to shift its alliances, especially with Iran, and its support of the Islamic militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas, whose leader Khaled Meshaal lives freely in Syria.
Syrianair now has only three planes that are safe to fly US SANCTIONS AGAINST SYRIA Exports of goods containing more than 10% US-produced components banned (except food and medicines)Obama administration working to increase exemptions for some IT, telecoms and civil aviation itemsSyrian airlines blocked from operating in USBan on all US transactions with Commercial Bank of SyriaSpecific individuals and organisations suspected of weapons dealing or associations with militant groups denied access to US financial system
The Syrian government sees Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as legitimate resistance movements against Israel.The Syrian government sees Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as legitimate resistance movements against Israel.
The US labels them terrorists.The US labels them terrorists.
A chasm still exists between the two countries - but bridges are slowly being built after the isolation of the Bush years. A chasm still exists between the two countries, but bridges are slowly being built after the isolation of the Bush years.
On Wednesday the US named diplomat Robert Ford its first ambassador to Damascus for five years. On Wednesday, the US named diplomat Robert Ford its first ambassador to Syria for five years.
And President Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell has visted three times in the past year. And President Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell has visited three times in the past year.
But Peter Harling, Regional Director for the International Crisis Group, believes that change will be slow to come. But Peter Harling, regional director for the International Crisis Group, believes change will be slow to come.
"What I think needs to happen is continual engagement until they have a strong enough relationship to be able to cope with the crises that inevitably happen in this region," he says "What I think needs to happen is continual engagement until they have a strong enough relationship to be able to cope with the crises that inevitably happen in this region," he says.
There is a deeply felt bitterness here towards the superpower over its support for Israel, resulting in an unwillingness to shift alliances and drop support for militant groups without guarantees of real progress towards the creation of a Palestinian state in return. There is a deeply felt bitterness here towards the US over its support for Israel, resulting in an unwillingness to shift alliances and drop support for militant groups without guarantees of real progress towards the creation of a Palestinian state in return.