PARIS: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Wednesday that certain European Union (EU) sanctions on Syria could be lifted soon as the new Syrian administration is urging Western nations to lift sanctions.
Barrot indicated that the EU sanctions related to humanitarian concerns could be lifted, marking a policy shift aimed at reducing the hardships faced by the Syrian people.
On Monday, the United States announced a six-month sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking to France Inter radio, said the EU could take a similar decision soon without giving precise timing adding that lifting more political sanctions would depend on how Syria’s new leadership handled the transition.
“There are other (sanctions), which today hinder access to humanitarian aid, which hinder the recovery of the country. These could be lifted quickly,” said Barrot.
“Finally, there are other sanctions, which we are discussing with our European partners, which could be lifted, but obviously depending on the pace at which our expectations for Syria regarding women and security are taken into account,” he said.
Foreign Minister Barrot and his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, last week visited Damascus marking a political new beginning between the EU and Post-Assad Syria.
Barrot while speaking to journalists at the French embassy in Damascus expressed his hope for a “sovereign, stable and peaceful” Syria.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied groups launched a lightning offensive last month, seizing Damascus on December 8 and ousting long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad.
The new leader of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa, had said his country is exhausted by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or the West.
In an interview with FRANCE 24 and a group of foreign journalists al-Sharaa called on Western nations to lift the international sanctions imposed on the country.
