The United States has provided the Kuwaiti government with information related to the Caesar Act that the country started from June 17, which permits severe economic sanctions against Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria for their brutal acts against the people of Syria that has prolonged the Syrian conflict, reports Al Rai daily.
In an interview with Al-Rai, American Ambassador to Kuwait Alina L. Romanowski stressed that the act aims to send a clear signal that any foreign company should avoid engaging in business with the Assad regime, and noted that the sanctions will continue, and may increase, until the Assad regime stops its brutal and unjustified war. In addition, he agrees to reach a political solution, while denying what it considered “false allegations” to hold her country responsible for the collapse of the Lebanese currency.
She described Kuwait as “an important ally of the United States and we exchange information between us regularly,” noting Kuwait’s success in making improvements in the field of intellectual property rights. She pointed to a program to be organized next Tuesday on June 23 that brings together young Kuwaiti businessmen and US experts to discuss ways to use virtual platforms in the areas of education and entrepreneurship.
Ambassador Romanowski praised the measures taken by Kuwait in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, especially its approach to reopening the economy and allowing people to return to work, while ensuring the health and safety of citizens and expats.
The following is the text of the interview:
Q The American Caesar Act imposes sanctions on any governmental or non-governmental agency dealing with the Syrian regime. To what extent does the implementation of the law affect your relations with countries that are among your allies, and those you have economic and strategic relation, including Gulf Cooperation Council countries in general, and Kuwait in particular?
A The Syrian conflict not only caused tragedy for the Syrian people, but also endangered our partners across the region. This brutal and unjustified war against the Syrian people must come to an end. We know that the sanctions that we impose are effective and successful, when their goal is to move a case forward, accompanied by a commitment from states on the same issue. As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on June 17: “We will launch this campaign of economic and political pressure, in full cooperation with other like-minded countries, especially with our European partners, who three weeks ago renewed their sanctions against the Assad regime for the same reason.”
The United States remains committed to working with the United Nations and international partners to provide vital assistance to the Syrian people who are suffering under the influence of the Assad regime. In addition to coordinating with our friends in the European Union countries, who in turn imposed very severe sanctions on the system, we are also working with the League of Arab States, in which Syria’s membership has been suspended. We are all working towards a political solution to the conflict in Syria, in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 2254.
Q In the event that there are transactions between individuals or companies present in Kuwait and the Syrian regime, will they be punished?
A Caesar’s Act allows severe economic sanctions to hold the Assad regime and its foreign empowerment elements accountable for their brutal actions against the Syrian people, and for unnecessarily prolonging the Syrian conflict. The sanctions will continue, and may be increased, until Assad and his regime stop his brutal and unjustified war, and agree to reach a political solution in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254. This law aims to send a clear signal, stating that “no foreign company should engage in business with the Assad regime or contribute to enriching it.”
Caesar’s Act does not affect or impede the delivery of humanitarian aid. The United States remains committed to working with the United Nations and international partners to provide vital assistance to the Syrian people still suffering at the hands of the Assad regime. The United States is the largest single humanitarian donor to the Syrian people, and since the beginning of the conflict we have provided more than $ 10.6 billion in humanitarian aid and more than $ 1.6 billion in the form of other relief assistance and stabilization throughout Syria.
Q Have you coordinated with Kuwait in this regard?
A We have provided the Kuwaiti government with information related to the sanctions. Kuwait is an important ally of the United States, and we exchange information regularly.
Q Some hold America responsible for the collapse of the currency in Lebanon because of the Caesar’s Act, and some hold Hezbollah responsible for its external ties. How do you see this and what is your position on the Lebanese government headed by Hassan Diab?
A These allegations are false. The Lebanese people realized the nature and truth of the long-standing issues that their economy and government suffer from when they took to the street last October to demand changes capable of revitalizing the Lebanese economy and addressing the issues that plague the country.
The United States stands with the Lebanese people, and we would like to see a prosperous Lebanon. We, along with other members of the international community, have urged political leaders in Lebanon to work towards reform and fighting corruption.
Q What are your thoughts on freedom of the media in Kuwait?
A Freedom of the press is essential in the United States and Kuwait, and we must protect it. The issue of media freedoms is one of important topics that since my arrival I have been able to engage in a discussion about it through virtual means with Kuwaitis and members of the Kuwaiti government.
I appreciate the nature of the conversation that brought me together with the Minister of Information, Minister of State for Youth Affairs Muhammad al-Jabri on June 16. During the phone call, we discussed several topics, including the successful introduction of the State of Kuwait and improvements in the field of intellectual property rights.
We also discussed coordination on several programs, including a program to be organized on June 23 that brings together young Kuwaiti businessmen with US experts to discuss ways to use virtual platforms in education and entrepreneurship.
Q How do you evaluate the government’s recent measures to combat the coronavirus?
A I appreciate the approach taken by the Kuwaiti government to reopen the economy and allow people to return to work, while ensuring the health and safety of citizens and residents in Kuwait. The government’s phased approach allows for flexibility and helps to mitigate the spread of the virus. Here at the embassy, we will continue to take precautions to protect the safety and health of our employees and visitors to the embassy, including visa applicants, passport renewals, and other services.
Q Can you share your thoughts on the outcome after the coronavirus, and do you expect major changes in international relations after this crisis?
A Despite the challenges that the virus imposed on us all, it brought many countries to work together on ways to confront this common threat … Whatever the nature of the challenges posed by this virus, the strengthening of the US-Kuwaiti relationship continues, and they are able to expand its endeavors in health and crisis management.
Q Who does the Caesar’s Act target?
A People who are financially profiting from the conflict in Syria. Those who facilitate the Assad regime’s access to goods, services, or technologies that support the regime’s military activities, in addition to the aviation and oil and gas production industries.
– Those who benefit from the Syrian conflict, by setting up reconstruction business projects.
She emphasized that the law does not affect or hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid. Under Executive Order No. (13894), on June 17, the Ministries of Treasury and State announced sanctions against 39 individuals and entities, as a start to the ongoing campaign to apply economic and political pressure, to deprive the Assad regime of the financial benefits and support it receives, to wage war and commit mass atrocities against the Syrian people.
Source: Al Rai