WASHINGTON -- The United States imposed mild trade and diplomatic sanctions against Syria Friday to forge a united front with Britain in a Western effort to slap down the Arab nation's support for international terrorism.
The measures would prohibit all sales of aircraft, computers and other high technology to Syria, as well as ban American ticket sales for the Syrian airline and trim the number of Syrian diplomats in the United States.
The sanctions, unveiled at the State Department, fall well short of Britain's break in diplomatic relations with Syria two weeks ago but were imposed to demonstrate symbolic solidarity with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who arrived inWashington Friday for a one-day visit with President Reagan.
State Department spokesman Charles Redman said the actions are deliberately limited in nature and are put forward as a means of persuading Syria to 'change its behavior.' He said it is possible they could be stepped up.
The U.S. actions go beyond those agreed by the European Communities, which banned the sale of all arms to Syria.
Britain broke off relations with Syria four hours after a Jordanian, Nizar Hindawi, was convicted of trying to blow up an El Al airliner last spring. Evidence during Hindawi's trial indicated that he was supplied and encouraged by Syrian officials in London.
The limited U.S. actions include:
-Expanding export controls on sales to Syria, effectively banning the sale of any aircraft, aircraft spare parts and computers. Sales by foreign-based American subsidiaries would not be banned. Agricultural sales would not end but subsidized grain sales would be prohibited.
-Terminating the Air Transport Agreement, which bans overflights by either country and ticket sales in the United States to Syrian Arab Airlines flights. The Syrian airline does not now fly to the United States.
-Reducing the staffs of the U.S. and Syrian embassies. The U.S. ambassador was withdrawn from Damascus the same day Britain broke off diplomatic relations. Syria does not now have an ambassador in Washington; the staff of 14 accredited diplomats in the Syrian embassy would probably be cut in half.
-Issuing a travel advisory to Americans, warning of Syria's connection to terrorism.
-Discouraging American participation in oil exploration and pumping in Syria.
Trade between the United States and Syria in 1985 was $108 million and will be even lower this year.
However, one sensitive spot could be the order banning the sale of spare parts for Syria's five Boeing airliners, three 727s and two 747SPs.
Syria is one of five countries listed by the State Department as supporting international terrorism, and therefore ineligible for some U.S. arms sales. Syrian officials have denied the terrorism charge and have insisted they are the victims of terrorist attacks from Iraq and Israel.
The State Department released a long list of terrorist actions in which Syria was directly or indirectly involved, including the Sept. 6 attack on a synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey, and the attempted bombing of a U.S. officers' club in the Turkisk city of Izmir.
