Saudi Arabia closes international meeting on Syria calling for lifting sanctions

Türkiye, Germany or the EU also support lifting or easing sanctions in some way.

Jan. 12 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has closed the international meeting of foreign ministers on Syria held in Riyadh by calling for the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country.

“The continuation of the sanctions imposed on the previous Syrian regime hinders the Syrian people’s aspirations for development, reconstruction and stability,” said Bin Farhan, according to the official Saudi news agency, SPA.

The Saudi prince has highlighted the “positive steps” taken by the new Syrian authorities to preserve the institutions of the State”, dialogue with the Syrian parties, his commitment to fight terrorism and the announcement of the opening of a political process that includes various sectors of the Syrian people “in a way that guarantees the stability of Syria, its territorial integrity and that Syria is not a source of threats to the security and stability of the countries in the region.”

In addition, Bin Farhan expressed his “appreciation” for the announcement by several countries to allocate humanitarian and development aid to Syria.

Finally, Bin Farhan has condemned Israel’s “incursion” into Syrian territory, specifically in Mount Hermon and the governorate of Quneitra, which he denounces as an “occupation” and “aggression” contrary to International Law and the agreement signed between Syria and Israel in 1974 and therefore calls for the “immediate withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces”.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Spain, Turkey, the Emirates, and the United Kingdom, participants have participated in the event, either at the ministerial level or at the level of representatives. , the United States, the Arab League, the EU and Syria itself, represented by its acting Foreign Minister, Hasan al Shibani.

Saudi Arabia is one of the main supporters of the Syrian militias that on December 8 overthrew President Bashar al Assad, led by the jihadist group Hayat Tahir al Sham (HTS) with Ahmed al Shara, alias ‘Abú Mohamed al Golani’ al forehead.

TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

Another of the main supporters of the militias has been Turkey, whose Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, has expressed from Riyadh his country’s willingness to support the new authorities and has highlighted the importance of preserving the territorial integrity of Syria, in clear reference to the Kurdish-Arab militias Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that control the northeast of the country. Fidan has urged the SDF to “self-dissolve” if they want to integrate into the new Syrian administration.

The head of Turkish diplomacy has also aligned himself with Riyadh to call for Israel’s withdrawal from Syrian territory and the lifting of international sanctions.

The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has also requested the lifting of sanctions, although maintaining the sanctions against those responsible for serious human rights violations during the war. It has also announced aid of 50 million euros for Syrian reconstruction, according to the German news agency DPA.

The High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU, Kaja Kallas, has assured that they are “studying how to ease sanctions” and has called for “tangible progress in the political transition that reflects Syria in all its diversity.”