The United States pauses selection of restrictions in Syria, offers hope on Western sanctions | News

Washington is paving the way for the necessary transactions for humanitarian purposes, in a move seen as an “important step” to ease the Western sanctions regime on the country.

The United States has announced that it is lifting selected restrictions on Syria’s transitional government.

Late Monday, the U.S. Treasury issued a general license, lasting six months, authorizing certain transactions with the Syrian government, including some energy sales and incidental transactions.

The move is designed to allow humanitarian aid to enter after Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad stepped down last month, the United States said. It suggests some progress in the efforts of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)the main group that overthrew al-Assad now lead the transition of Syria, to strengthen international relations.

The action does not remove any sanctions but will ensure that they “do not impede activities to meet basic human needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian assistance,” the US Treasury said.

Undersecretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said the end of the “brutal and repressive rule of al-Assad, supported by Russia and Iran” provided a unique opportunity for Syria and its people to rebuild.

“During this transition period, the Treasury will continue to support humanitarian assistance and responsible governance in Syria.”

A wide range of Western sanctions are weakening Syria’s economy and threatening its recovery after more than 13 years of civil war. The United Stateslike the European Union, impose sanctions against al-Assad and his regime for war crimes and human rights violations.

Despite the removal of al-Assad, however, the sanctions remain in place. European officials said recently that they will not rise until the new leaders of Syria demonstrate that they will protect minorities and share power.

Syria’s new trade minister warned on Monday that Damascus was unable to make deals to import fuel, grain or other key goods because of tight US sanctions, despite several countries, including Gulf Arab states, they wanted to do it.

Maher Khalil al-Hasan told the Reuters news agency that the new Syrian government administration had managed to collect enough grain and fuel for a few months, but the country faces a “catastrophe” if the sanctions are not freeze or thaw quickly.

‘important step’

“The new administration … wants all these sanctions to be lifted. But this is an important step coming from the United States – because the Western sanctions are in place by the European Union and also other Western allied countries, but they think that they mainly take their lead from the United States,” Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays reported. from Damascus, he said.

The announcement followed a meeting in Damascus between the head of HTS, Ahmed al-Sharaa – who was once aligned with al-Qaeda – and the top US diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf.

The United States and the United Nations have long designated HTS as a terrorist organization. However, the US has gradually lifted some penalties since Assad’s departure, including dropping a $10 million fine on al-Sharaa.

Go away

In another positive development for Syria’s new leaders, international flights to the war-torn nation recovery on tuesday

The airport official, Saad Khair Bek, said that two flights from Damascus International Airport are leaving for the United Arab Emirates in the morning. An early arrival, traveling from Qatar, was due to land at noon.

Last Thursday, Qatar Airways announced it would resume flights to Damascus after nearly 13 years, with three flights a week to begin with.

No flights had taken off or landed since pro-Assad forces abandoned the airport in the Syrian capital on December 8.