US Sanctions Hurt Syria

US Sanctions hurt Syria more than many pretended they would according to an al-Jazeera article today.

Syrian Trade and Economy Minister Ghassan Rifaai spoke openly about their "negative impact" on the economy. He acknowledged the sanctions were not "a good sign at the moment when (the country) is moving towards an (economic)opening and to attract investment." "The announcement of sanctions battered us psychologically and will worsen the climate for investments, trade, industry and our financial transactions abroad," one representative of an American firm in Syria told AFP.