Damascus, SANA – An official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said Tuesday that the European Union has imposed new sanctions against Syrian figures and scientists who are performing their duties to push forward the development process and counterterrorism efforts in Syria.

The new decision, the ministry added, came within the framework of the EU hysterical campaign against the Syrian people using unbelievable pretexts regarding Khan Sheikhoun incident where the terrorist groups targeted the innocent civilians with chemical weapons.

The source noted that that unjustified measure, which has been taken before the completion of the investigation into Khan Sheikhoun incident, reflects the imprudence of the EU officials and their insistence on supporting terrorist groups and misleading the international public opinion, taking into consideration that the EU countries did not respond to Syria’s request to send an OPCW mission to investigate the events in Khan Sheikhoun and al-Sha’irat airbase.

“Syria reaffirms that it does not have any form of chemical weapons,” said the source, adding that the Syrian state has never used them at any time or place under any circumstances, confirming its compliance with its legal obligations under the OPCW Convention.

The Ministry stressed rejection and condemnation of such measures, adding that the EU sanctions directly support terrorists and cover up their crimes.

It concluded that those sanctions indicate that the EU lacks moral and ethical standards while dealing with today’s crises, particularly in the universal war against terrorism.

R.Raslan/Mazen