BRUSSELS Jan. 8 () –
Germany wants the European Union to adopt a new common position regarding Syria after the fall of Bashar al Assad’s regime, which includes the relief of economic, financial and transport sanctions and approaches the new authorities, headed by the jihadist group. Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), considering removing him from the United Nations ‘blacklist’ due to his proximity to Al Qaeda.
The German Executive will take to the next meeting of European foreign ministers that the bloc identifies sanctions that it can lift “gradually”, according to a preliminary document to which Europa Press has had access. To this end, he proposes setting political conditions to take these steps, in addition to keeping the door open to reestablishing restrictions in the event of a democratic setback on the ground.
Specifically, the German proposal is to maintain measures against members of the defunct Al Assad regime, as well as against the proliferation of chemical weapons, but to ease measures that could benefit the Syrian society and economy.
Such steps would be facilitating air travel between the EU and Syria, lifting sanctions against airlines such as Syrian Arab Airlines, facilitating the return of Syrian refugees and migrants in Europe and exports of aviation fuel to Syria.
Likewise, Berlin asks to extend the exceptions to the sanctions for humanitarian aid until the end of 2025, since they currently expire in June 2025, and to allow investments in the country and for Syrian citizens to bring their businesses to their country, as well as resume the export of technology, vehicles, after more than a decade of economic sanctions.
Regarding the financial aspects of the sanctions, Germany wants the EU to consider thawing relations and look for ways to reopen financial channels with Damascus through local and European banks to promote investments in Syria.
Regarding the situation of HTS, which is currently considered a terrorist organization by the EU and is sanctioned by the United Nations for its relationship with Al Qaeda, Germany defends “the possible exclusion from the list” of those sanctioned by the UN, and although points out that this decision depends on the UN Security Council, urges to address the issue and carry out a “joint evaluation” of HTS and its leader and current strongman of Syria, Ahmed al Shara, alias ‘Abú Mohamed al Golani’ .
In any case, the preliminary document indicates that these steps to lift sanctions will be “reversible” and will be measured in relation to the progress of the peaceful political transition in Syria “that guarantees the protection and representation of all minorities.”
This proposal will be debated at the level of the 27 at the end of the month and follows the steps taken by the United States to relax restrictions on the arrival of humanitarian aid to Syria and Damascus airport has resumed international flights this week, in particular to countries neighbors such as Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Although diplomatic sources explain that this proposal has not yet been discussed in depth with the rest of the European partners, France, whose Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot traveled last week with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, to Syria to meet with the new authorities Syrians, including Al Shara, have aligned themselves with this position.
This same Wednesday, Barrot has opted to quickly lift restrictions on humanitarian aid to alleviate the crisis in Syria and noted that the withdrawal of more political sanctions will depend on the management of the inclusive transition in the country.
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