DAMASCUS, Dec 15: The UN special envoy for Syria urged for a swift termination of Western sanctions following the removal of President Bashar Assad.
The Syrian administration has faced stringent sanctions from the United States, European Union, and others for years, largely due to Assad’s violent crackdown on what initially started as peaceful anti-government demonstrations in 2011, which eventually escalated into a civil conflict.
This ongoing war has resulted in nearly half a million fatalities and has displaced about half of Syria’s pre-war population of 23 million. The reconstruction efforts have been significantly hampered by sanctions intended to obstruct the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure and properties in areas controlled by the government, amidst a lack of a political resolution.
“We are hopeful for a swift conclusion to the sanctions so that we can effectively rally around the rebuilding of Syria,” UN envoy Geir Pedersen conveyed to reporters during his visit to Damascus.
Pedersen visited the Syrian capital to engage with officials from the recent interim government formed by the former opposition forces that overthrew Assad, led by the Islamic militant faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
HTS is classified as a terrorist organization by the US, which may further complicate rebuilding efforts, although Washington officials have suggested that the Biden administration is contemplating lifting this designation.
The interim government is scheduled to govern until March, but the specifics regarding how a permanent administration will be established remain unclear.
“It is essential to initiate a political process that encompasses all Syrians,” Pedersen remarked. “This process must, of course, be led by the Syrians themselves.”
He also emphasized the need for “justice and accountability for the crimes” committed during the conflict and called on the international community to increase humanitarian support. (AP)
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