In a briefing on July 28, Kelly confirmed a Syrian assertion that the
White House would lift U.S. sanctions that banned aerospace exports to
Damascus. Kelly said the administration would also approve U.S. exports of
information technology and communications to Syria.
"I am deeply troubled that the United States would make unilateral
concessions to the Syrian regime and ease pressure on Damascus, even as the
State Department recently reported to Congress that Syria continues to
pursue advanced missile and chemical, biological and nuclear weapons
capabilities and to sponsor violent Islamist extremist groups like Hizbullah
and Hamas," Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, said.
Kelly said the administration would seek a waiver of the Syria
Accountability Act, passed in 2003. In May 2009, Obama renewed sanctions on
Syria.
"Any changes to U.S. sanctions require close coordination with
Congress," Kelly said.
On July 27, Syrian ambassador to the United States, Imad Mustafa,
reported that Washington has promised to end the ban on civilian aerospace
exports to Damascus. Mustafa said Syria would also be allowed to import U.S.
communications and information technology products.
"We are focusing with President Obama's administration on using the U.S.
president's executive authority to suspend the execution of the important
articles in the sanctions law," Mustafa, said.
"There hasn't been any decision to lift the sanctions," Kelly said.
The White House said the administration was ready to rapidly process
export license applications to Syria. White House spokesman Tommy Vietor
also cited aviation safety, information technology and telecommunications to
Syria.
