After the overthrow of Assad in Syria, the UN envoy calls for an end to sanctions

A United Nations envoy called on Sunday for a quick end to Western sanctions imposed on the country Syria As the country’s new leaders and regional and global powers begin to chart a way forward after the crisis The fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

The Syrian government has been subject to strict sanctions by the United States, the European Union and others for years as a result The lion responded violently What started as peaceful anti-government protests in 2011 later turned into a civil war.

the Rebel Alliance The country that ousted Assad and broke his iron grip on the country just days ago faces a nation broken and deeply isolated by tough international sanctions, which have exacerbated Syria’s previous economic problems. But other challenges are complicating the process of rebuilding Syria: The new transitional leadership has not laid out a clear vision for how to govern the country, and the main group behind the attack is burdened with a difficult task. Designated a terrorist by the United States.

The United Nations envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, told reporters in Damascus that getting Syria back on track after the past few turbulent weeks will be helped by the rapid easing of sanctions.

He added: “We hope to see a quick end to the sanctions so that we can see real mobilization around building Syria.”

Parts of Syria’s major cities remain damaged or destroyed by years of fighting. The reconstruction process has been greatly hampered by sanctions aimed at preventing the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure and property in government-controlled areas in the absence of a political solution.

Pedersen traveled to Damascus to meet with officials from the new interim government formed by the former opposition forces that ousted Assad, led by the armed Islamic group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Officials in Washington indicated that the Biden administration is considering removing the terrorist group’s designation. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said this on Saturday Officials were in direct contact With the group.

Over the weekend, Blinken attended an emergency meeting in Jordan where he said he had the support of the 12 foreign ministers from the Arab League, Turkey and senior officials from the European Union and the United Nations on how to manage Syria after decades under the Assad family. a base.

They agreed that the new government must respect the rights of minorities and women, prevent terrorist groups from taking control, ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need, and secure and destroy any chemical weapons remaining from the Assad era. Blinken has promised that the United States will recognize and support a new government that lives up to these principles.

A readout of President Biden’s virtual call with G7 leaders said they discussed “the need for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition” amid other issues in the Middle East.

With time running out for the Biden administration, it is not clear what approach President-elect Donald Trump will take toward Syria.

The Syrian interim government is scheduled to take power until March, but it has not yet clarified the process by which it will be replaced by a new permanent administration.

“We need to start a political process that includes all Syrians,” Pedersen said. It is clear that this process needs to be led by the Syrians themselves.”

He called for “justice and accountability for crimes” committed during the war and called on the international community to increase humanitarian aid.

In a sign of Syrians’ aspiration to return to normal life, even after the stormy attack launched by opposition fighters in recent weeks, schools reopened in Damascus on Sunday for the first time since the militants advanced to the capital.

At Nahla Zidan School in the Mezzeh district of the capital, teachers raised the two-star flag of the revolution instead of the two-star Syrian flag that was used by the previous government.

Maysoon Al-Ali, the school director, said, “Syria is trying to build this country with these children who came. Although I think some of them are afraid, they came to build Syria and to live the victories of this country.”

“God willing, there will be more development, more security, and more construction in this beloved country.”