Syria's Interim Foreign Minister Applauds EU's Sanction Suspension

Synopsis

Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani has welcomed the EU's decision to suspend sanctions for one year, highlighting its potential to improve living conditions and support economic recovery in the country. This decision comes amidst ongoing humanitarian challenges and political transitions within Syria.

Key Takeaways

Syria's interim FM welcomes EU's decision.
Sanctions suspended for one year.
Potential to enhance living conditions.
Support for economic recovery.
EU aims to alleviate humanitarian pressures.

Damascus, Jan 28 (NationPress) Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani expressed his approval of the European Union's decision to suspend sanctions against Damascus for a period of one year, deeming it a significant step towards improving the living conditions for Syrians and aiding in economic recovery.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, al-Shibani noted that Syria "appreciates the EU's decision to halt sanctions" and voiced optimism that this suspension would "positively influence all facets of Syrians' lives and promote sustainable development."

Earlier on Monday, the EU Foreign Affairs Council reached an agreement to temporarily lift restrictions targeting Syria's energy, transportation, and specific financial sectors, as reported by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, according to Xinhua news agency.

Barrot indicated that this decision aims to alleviate humanitarian challenges while pressing Damascus to engage in a United Nations-supported political transition, escalate efforts against remnants of the Islamic State, and eliminate all chemical weapons stockpiles.

Since 2011, the EU has enforced strict sanctions against Syria, citing former President Bashar al-Assad's alleged "war crimes" during the civil conflict. Assad's administration fell on December 8, 2024, after a 12-day offensive led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied militant entities.

Following Assad's ousting, interim authorities headed by HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa have been actively lobbying Western nations to relax sanctions imposed on the previous regime.

In a related update, the Syrian interim authorities announced the release of 275 detainees from the Central Prison in Homs province on Monday, as per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The monitoring group reported that the released individuals had been screened and found not to have committed war crimes. This release follows a significant security operation in early 2025 that resulted in the detention of hundreds of former regime soldiers and civilians in Homs and nearby regions.