According to diplomats speaking to news agencies, EU member states have approved lifting economic sanctions against Syria in an effort to aid the war-torn nation’s recovery following Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.
The move should be formally announced by foreign ministers meeting in Brussels later on Tuesday, according to diplomats, who noted that ministers have the final say in the matter.
The United States announced last week that Damascus would no longer be subject to sanctions.
Hashem Ahelbarra, a journalist from the EU headquarters, described the reported lifting of the sanctions as a “really significant” development.
First of all, he said, “The EU recognizes the authority that is currently in Syria, and that more financial transactions are required to facilitate the creation of financial stability and improve the living standards of the Syrian population.”
According to Ahelbarra, sanctions were imposed during al-Assad’s rule in 2012 and 2013 on the banking, energy, and transportation sectors.
The new government’s leadership has urged the West to ease the restrictions in order to aid Syria’s recovery from decades of oppressive rule and civil war.
According to EU diplomats, the deal should result in the lifting of sanctions that would prevent Syrian banks from entering the global system and halting central bank assets.
However, according to diplomats, the group said it was planning to impose new individual sanctions on those responsible for stoking racial tensions in the wake of deadly attacks against the Alawite minority.
Other measures intended to endanger the al-Assad regime and impose repression of civilians were planned.
Following its initial step in February, the EU suspended some sanctions against important Syrian economic sectors.
If Syria’s new leaders violate their pledges to respect minorities and adopt democracy, officials said those measures could be reinstated.
Source: Aljazeera
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