Syria considers historic lifting of sanctions

Syrian authorities have welcomed the lifting of remaining economic sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) against the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, a decision they described as historic.

In a statement, the Syrian Foreign Ministry welcomed the move, which it saw as “the beginning of a new chapter in relations” between the Arab country and the European bloc. Syrian diplomacy highlighted the EU’s commitment to the process of “Syria’s transition to a future based on stability, human rights, economic recovery and international cooperation”.

The ministry also thanked Brussels for its “support to the Syrian people in their reconstruction”, recalling that the Arab country “inherits (…) a devastated infrastructure [and] a disjointed economy”.

Syria also stressed that the EU decision would allow “to improve political and security cooperation [and] ensure mutual benefits” for both parties. The Arab country’s authorities attributed the EU’s lifting of sanctions to “the resilience of Syrians inside and outside the country.”

“With the support of intensive outreach campaigns in European capitals, they played a key role in paving the way for new partnerships based on trust, transparency and cooperation,” he added.

“Today, what Syria needs more than ever are friends, not obstacles . We are looking for true partners to rebuild our cities, reconnect our economy with the world and heal the wounds of conflict,” the ministry said.

EU foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday to lift remaining sanctions on Syria that had been imposed under the regime of Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December by an Islamist-inspired coalition.

The suspension does not, however, affect the measures aimed at those responsible for the repression during the Al-Assad regime, who fled to Russia, and for the human rights violations still in force.

The agreement to lift economic sanctions completes an initial decision by the 27 European bloc, which had already lifted restrictions on the energy and transport sectors in January, as a first response to the fall of the regime.

Despite former rebel leader and current transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa's promise of an inclusive Syria, the country has witnessed bloody clashes in recent months between the new security forces, mostly Sunni, and the Alawite religious minorities, to which Al-Assad belongs, and the Druze, which has the support of Israel.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday in the Senate (upper house of Congress) in Washington that Syria could be weeks away from a “ full-scale civil war ” that would mean the disintegration of the country, days after meeting with leaders of the transitional regime.