Syria‘s Foreign Minister Urges US to Lift Sanctions in Meeting with Qatar‘s Prime Minister
Doha, Qatar — Syrian Foreign Minister Awad Mustafa Al-Shbib met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, reiterating Syria’s call for the US to lift its crippling sanctions. The meeting, held on Sunday, saw Al-Shbib emphasize that the US sanctions are a major obstacle to Syria’s recovery and rehabilitation.
Al-Shbib underscored Syria’s desire to rebuild and restore its international relations, regain basic services and human rights for its people, and emphasized that the lifting of sanctions is crucial for these aims. He stressed that Syria’s interim government is fully operational and capable of managing the reconstruction process.
Accompanied by Defense Minister穆尔哈roj Abu Qasr and Intelligence Chief Ανασ Κατταβ, Al-Shbib’s trip to Qatar was his second overseas visit since the recent political shift in Syria. His first stop was Saudi Arabia, and he is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in the coming days.
Al-Shbib’s visit to Qatar signals a shift in Qatar’s stance towards the new Syrian leadership. Previously, Qatar had refrained from normalizing relations with President Bashar Al-Assad’s government, citing humanitarian concerns and alleged human rights abuses committed by the Assad regime.
Following the ouster of Bashar Al-Assad’s government and the subsequent rise of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham leader Abu Muhammad Al-Julani, Qatar has softened its stance. Al-Shbib’s visit indicates that Qatar is now prepared to engage with the new leadership, potentially paving the way for increased regional cooperation.
Earlier, Al-Julani had announced that fresh elections in Syria would not take place for another four years. He cited the need to complete a new census and prepare a new constitution as reasons for the delay. The new leadership is hopeful that a change in US administration could lead to the lifting of US sanctions, potentially facilitating Syria’s political transition and reconstruction efforts.
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