Syrian Minister of Tourism Bishr Yazagi condemned on Saturday (June 28) sanctions imposed by the European Union on a number of Syrian personalities including himself.
Yazagi told Reuters the sanctions come in spite of a presidential election which saw President Bashar al-Assad returned for another term.
"Sanctions imposed on me and my other colleagues, I think, will not be an obstacle in performing our duties. They (the sanctions) might have goals especially at this time; a time of victory - after the victory we achieved in the presidential elections. They might be a desperate attempt of pressure at this time," he said in his office in Damascus.
European Union foreign ministers agreed on June 23, to impose an asset freeze and travel ban on 12 Syrian government ministers, accusing them of "responsibility for serious human rights violations".
Yazagi told Reuters he would rather the EU's efforts were directed in helping to salvage Syria's heritage, including that of Aleppo.
"They talk about humanitarianism and we have seen the humanity of those who claim the revolution in Aleppo. They claim their support of civilization and we have seen what they did to the humanitarian civilization in Aleppo. Unfortunately these sanctions will not have but negative effects and a sign to what the European Union is thinking in order to continue its policy," he said.
Syria's northern city of Aleppo has seen years of grinding conflict between rebel groups and Bashar al-Assad's forces, which has destroyed much of the city's historic skyline, a result for which the rebels and Syrian government largely blame each other.
"They talk about humanitarianism and impose sanctions using the excuse of humanitarianism. We wished to see their humanity in Aleppo and in their defence of humanitarian civilization and heritage in Aleppo," Yazagi said.
In a video obtained by Reuters from the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, Yazagi can be seen walking around some streets of the old city accompanied by a delegation from the city.
In the video Yazagi walked in the covered souks of the city, Khan al-Shouneh, Aleppo citadel and Omayyades mosque as well as other areas that are under the Syrian government control.
The video footage also showed damage to building and general areas in Aleppo.
A huge part of Aleppo is in the rebels' hands and people in the city are in need for water because of a siege imposed on the government-held areas by the rebels.
At least 162,000 people have been killed in Syria's three-year-old conflict and thousands more are missing. Millions have been forced out of their homes and have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
REUTERS