Queen’s University Middle East expert Houchang Hassan-Yari is available to talk about the new sanctions against Syria that were announcement today by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

Dr. Hassan-Yari feels the latest sanctions (which sees an additional 47 people and three companies barred from business dealings with Syria) will have little effect on stopping the violence. Dr. Hassan-Yari believes Canada should focus on helping Syrian opposition forces start a government-in-exile.

“I think it would be much more effective for the Canadian government to help the opposition inside Syria and Turkey get their act together, unify their efforts and create a government-in-exile. That would give the people of Syria a real alternative,” Dr. Hassan-Yari says.

Please note that Dr. Hassan-Yari wants to be identified in the media as a Middle East expert from Queen’s University and Royal Military College.

To arrange an interview, please contact communication officers Anne Craig at 613-533-2877 or anne.craig@queensu.ca or Michael Onesi at 613.533.6000 ext. 77513 or michael.onesi@queensu.at Queen’s University News and Media Services Department in Kingston, Ont., Canada.

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