The document, signed by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Denmark, states that the European Union (EU) “should immediately begin to adjust its sanctions regime.”
Six European Union member states have called for temporarily suspending sanctions against Syria in areas including transport, energy and banking, according to a document seen by Reuters. The document, signed by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Denmark, states that the European Union (EU) “should immediately begin to adjust its sanctions regime.” The various foreign ministers of the member states are expected to discuss the easing of sanctions at a meeting in Brussels on January 27.
European leaders had begun to reassess their policy towards Damascus after the ouster of President Bashar al Assad by the rebel coalition led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al Cham (HTC), notably considered terrorist by the United States and the United Nations. The document nevertheless warns that if the EU's expectations for respect for human and minority rights are not met, sanctions may not be lifted or may be reapplied.
Sanctions against members of the Assad regime and its supporters maintained
Last week, the United States granted a six-month sanctions waiver for transactions with government institutions in Syria to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The six states signatories to the document said the EU should lift its sanctions on civil air travel, reassess sanctions on high-value goods, lift the ban on exports of oil and gas technologies and reopen financial channels between the EU and Syria. They said, however, that sanctions against members of the Assad regime and its supporters must be maintained. The lifting of sanctions against HTC at the European level should be discussed at the United Nations, according to the document, and coordinated with close partners. “This will depend on our joint assessment of the listed entity HTC and its leader (Ahmed) al Charaa, as well as developments on the ground in Syria,” the document said.
EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas met with Syria's new Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where top Western and Middle Eastern diplomats gathered to discuss the situation in Syria. “Now is the time for Syria's new leaders to realize the hope they have raised, through a peaceful and inclusive transition that protects all minorities,” she said. “Then we will discuss with EU foreign ministers ways to ease sanctions,” she added.
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