Syria urges EU to lift remaining sanctions on state institutions

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani has called on the European Union to lift remaining unilateral restrictions imposed on Damascus by the country’s former government.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Damascus with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, al-Shaibani also highlighted cooperation with the EU in tackling cross-border crime, irregular migration, drug trafficking and human trafficking. He said Syria’s stability was closely linked to Europe’s security, Caliber.Az reports per Syrian media. 

Al-Shaibani called for sanctions on Syrian state institutions to be removed while maintaining measures targeting figures from the ousted regime.

Kallas said the EU had moved quickly following the fall of the former regime to lift economic sanctions in support of Syria’s recovery and reconstruction. She said the success of Syria’s political transition was important to the bloc and described recent European measures as steps towards normalising relations.

Al-Shaibani also pointed to the convening of the People’s Assembly in July and what he described as the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions on the basis of equal citizenship. He said Syria had regained its full rights at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and had closed a file at the International Atomic Energy Agency linked to the ousted regime.

Kallas, who is on an official visit to Damascus, said the EU was ready to strengthen its partnership with Syria and attract further investment. She also said the bloc was committed to supporting a genuine and successful transition process in the country.

By Sabina Mammadli