The European Union has determined to elevate financial sanctions on Syria to assist with its restoration after a virtually 14-year civil struggle and the ouster of Bashar Assad, the bloc’s international coverage chief mentioned Tuesday.
“Today, we took the decision to lift our economic sanctions on Syria,” the EU’s high diplomat Kaja Kallas posted on X after a gathering of the bloc’s international ministers in Brussels.
“We want to help the Syrian people rebuild a new, inclusive and peaceful Syria,” she mentioned.
The transfer from the European Union comes after U.S. President Donald Trump introduced final week that Washington was lifting its sanctions towards Syria.
The nation’s new rulers have been clamouring for aid from the crushing worldwide punishment imposed after Assad’s crackdown on opponents spiralled into civil struggle.
EU diplomats mentioned the settlement ought to see the lifting of sanctions chopping Syrian banks off from the worldwide system and freezing central financial institution belongings.
But diplomats mentioned the bloc supposed to impose new particular person sanctions on these accountable for stirring ethnic tensions, following lethal assaults concentrating on the Alawite minority.
Other measures concentrating on the Assad regime and prohibiting the sale of weapons or gear that may very well be used to repress civilians are set to stay in place.
Syria’s international minister Asaad al-Shaibani mentioned after the EU determination that the lifting of the financial sanctions confirmed an “international will” to help Damascus.
Al-Shaibani added that “the Syrian people today have a very important and historic opportunity to rebuild their country.”
The newest transfer from the EU comes after it took a primary step in February of suspending some sanctions on key Syrian financial sectors.
Officials mentioned these measures may very well be reimposed if Syria’s new leaders break guarantees to respect the rights of minorities and transfer in the direction of democracy.
Source: www.dailysabah.com