Turkey's exports to Syria may be affected by sanctions on Syria, Turkish deputy premier says

NEW YORK (A.A) - December 15, 2011 - Turkey's deputy prime minister said on Wednesday that Turkey's exports to Syria might be affected a bit by sanctions on Syria. Ali Babacan said that the target of Turkey's sanctions was the Syrian regime, not the daily life of Syrian people. "Our exports to Syria may be affected a bit, but when you take into consideration the overall figures, Syria does not have a serious share in our exports," Babacan told a press conference in New York. Babacan said the Arab League prepared a draft list of sanctions which called on ending civilian flights over Syria, and Turkey found wrong and would not implement.  "We do not want to turn Syria into an open-air prison because halting civilian flights is a measure that will have a negative effect on people," he said. Babacan also said, "we have two rules. Firstly, sanctions cannot be imposed on water, and sanctions cannot have negative impact on daily life of people." On November 30, Davutoglu revealed a package of sanctions on Syria over Damascus' refusal to halt a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Following is a list of sanctions: 1- Turkey will suspend its High Level Strategic Cooperation Council until a legitimate rule is established in Syria.    2- Turkey will impose a travel ban on and freeze bank assets of members of the Syrian leadership who have been alleged to resort to violence and unlawful methods on Syrian people. Turkey will also take similar measures against businesspeople who give strong backing to the Syrian regime.    3- Turkey will halt sale and supply of all weapons and other military equipment to the Syrian army. 4- Turkey will intercept delivery of all weapons and other military equipment to the Syria through Turkish soil, air space and waters. 5- Relations between Turkish and Syrian central banks will be suspended.  6- Financial assets of the Syrian government in Turkey will be frozen.  7- Turkey will stop all financial credit dealings with Syria. 8- All operations, except for ongoing ones, with Syria will be stopped.  9- Turkey will suspend a Turkish Eximbank loan deal to finance Syrian infrastructure projects.