Damascus (Syria), May 25: Syria views the Trump administration’s decision to ease sanctions on the war-torn country as a positive step to alleviate humanitarian and economic suffering. The Syrian foreign ministry has extended its hand to anyone wanting to cooperate with Damascus, provided there is no intervention in the country’s internal affairs.
The US ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, met with Syria’s president and foreign minister during their visit to Turkey, and President Ahmad al-Sharaa welcomed Washington’s “fast action on lifting sanctions.”
Barrack emphasized that the cessation of sanctions will preserve the integrity of the primary objective – the enduring defeat of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.
He also commended President al-Sharaa on taking meaningful steps towards enacting President Trump’s points on foreign terrorist fighters, counter-ISIS measures, relations with Israel, and camps and detention centers in Northeast Syria.
The State Department waived for six months a tough set of sanctions imposed by Congress in 2019, known as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.
The sanctions had aimed to isolate Syria’s previous rulers by expelling those doing business with them from the global financial system. The Trump administration said Friday’s actions were part of a broader US government effort to remove the full architecture of sanctions.
Damascus resident Nael Kaddah said that the eased sanctions will allow the country to flourish again, as Syrians can now transfer money freely.
Syria’s foreign ministry emphasized dialogue and diplomacy as the best way to build balanced relations and strengthen security and stability in the region. (AP)
