US Seeking to Starve Syrian People: FM
Walid al-Moallem said the sanctions are a challenge but not impossible to overcome, and insisted that the government will be able to cope with the so-called Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act - with assistance from friends and allies.
"The challenges are not easy," al-Moallem said, according to AP. "We have already started taking measures to counter these sanctions."
"What we need to do is turn this into an opportunity to develop our national economy, increase self-reliance and deepen the cooperation with friends and allies," al-Moallem said and added that authorities are "not worried about the Caesar Act despite all the psychological warfare."
Al-Moallem also said that the sanctions aim to influence the Syrian presidential elections, expected next year, to change Syria's policy and force it to give up its current alliances.
He said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would remain in power as long as the Syrian people want him to stay.
Al-Moallem dismissed the measures as an "act of the despairing" after the Syrian government forces' success on the battlefield.
"The real goal of the so-called Caesar Act is to open the door for the return of terrorism as it was in 2011," he added.
