InternationalNews
French Foreign Minister: EU Sanctions on Syria Could Be Lifted Soon
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told “France Inter” radio on Wednesday that European Union sanctions on Syria, which are currently hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid and the country’s recovery, could be lifted quickly.
He added that discussions are ongoing with EU partners regarding the potential lifting of additional sanctions if progress is made in areas such as women’s rights and achieving security in Syria.
He continued, “There are sanctions imposed on Bashar al-Assad and the executioners of his regime. Naturally, these sanctions will not be lifted. However, there are other sanctions that currently hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid and prevent the country’s recovery, and these may be lifted soon.”
The United States has issued a six-month exemption from sanctions on transactions with certain government entities in Syria to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid, address energy shortages, and allow for personal remittances.
The EU, the US, the UK, and other governments imposed strict sanctions on Syria after Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011 turned into a civil war. Although the group “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” announced severing its ties with al-Qaeda, both the UN and the US still classify it as a terrorist organization.
