RIYADH, Jan 12: On Sunday, Germany’s foreign minister emphasized the need for ongoing sanctions against Syrian officials accountable for war crimes but advocated for a “smart approach” to deliver aid to the Syrian populace following the recent ousting of President Bashar Assad.
Annalena Baerbock made these comments to reporters upon her arrival in Saudi Arabia for a conference focused on Syria’s future, attended by prominent diplomats from Europe and the Middle East.
Germany is among a group of nations that have enforced sanctions on the Assad regime in response to its violent suppression of dissent. These sanctions could complicate Syria’s recovery from nearly 14 years of civil conflict, which has resulted in approximately 500,000 fatalities and displaced about half of the prewar population of 23 million.
“Sanctions against Assad’s associates who have committed severe crimes during the civil war must remain in place,” Baerbock asserted. “However, Germany advocates for a measured approach to sanctions, enabling swift relief for the Syrian people. Syrians urgently need to see tangible benefits from the shift in power.”
Baerbock announced an additional €50 million ($51.2 million) in German aid dedicated to food, emergency housing, and medical assistance, underscoring the plight of millions of displaced Syrians.
Recently, the United States relaxed some of its restrictions on Syria, with the Treasury Department issuing a six-month general license permitting specific transactions with the Syrian government, including certain energy sales and associated dealings.
Additionally, the US rescinded a $10 million bounty previously placed on Ahmad al-Sharaa, a Syrian rebel leader known formerly as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, whose forces played a pivotal role in the ousting of Assad last month. Al-Sharaa, once a senior al-Qaeda operative, has distanced himself from the organization and committed to a Syria that respects the rights of religious minorities.
The rebels executed a rapid insurgency that led to Assad’s removal on December 8, ending his family’s long-standing rule.
In response to the allegations of war crimes and the production of the stimulant Captagon—which reportedly generated billions by being smuggled across Syria’s borders—much of the international community severed ties with Assad, imposing sanctions on his regime and its Russian and Iranian supporters.
With Assad gone, Syria’s new leadership is hopeful that the global community will invest in the country’s reconstruction efforts to restore its crippled infrastructure and revive its economy. (AP)
