Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Sunday called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria after meetings with top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe. This comes just a month after Islamist-led rebels toppled strongman Bashar al-Assad.
"We stressed the importance of lifting unilateral and international sanctions imposed on Syria, as their continuation hinders the aspirations of the Syrian people to achieve development and reconstruction," Prince Faisal bin Farhan said after Sunday's talks concluded in Riyadh.
The talks included a meeting of Arab officials as well as a broader gathering also including Turkey, France, the European Union and the United Nations.
Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the main rebel group in the alliance that overthrew Assad, had been pushing for sanctions relief. His administration was represented at the Riyadh talks by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.
Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions on Assad's government over his brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011, which triggered civil war.
More than 13 years of conflict have killed over half a million Syrians, left infrastructure destroyed and the people impoverished, while millions have fled their homes, including to Europe.
Waiting to see progress
The United States Treasury Department said last Monday it would ease enforcement on restrictions affecting essential services including energy and sanitation.
But US officials say they will wait to see progress before any wider easing of sanctions.
US Under Secretary of State John Bass was also set to attend the Riyadh meeting, coming from talks in Turkey that addressed "the importance of regional stability, preventing Syria from being used as a base for terrorism, and ensuring the enduring defeat" of the Islamic State group, the State Department said.
Inclusive government
The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on Friday that the 27-nation bloc could begin lifting sanctions if Syria's new rulers took steps to form an inclusive government that protected minorities.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Sunday told reporters in Riyadh that her government wanted a "smart approach" to sanctions that would enable aid to reach Syrians.
"Sanctions against Assad's henchmen who committed serious crimes during the civil war must remain in place... Syrians now need a quick dividend from the transition of power," she said, adding that Germany would provide another €50 million "for food, emergency shelter and medical care."
According to the United Nations, seven out of 10 Syrians need help.
French and German Foreign Ministers call for 'an inclusive Syria'
The meetings on Sunday represent a continuation of talks on post-Assad Syria held last month in Jordan, Saudi officials said.
After those talks in Aqaba, diplomats called in a joint statement for a Syrian-led transition to "produce an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government formed through a transparent process".
The statement also stressed "respect for human rights" and the importance of combating "terrorism and extremism", demanding all parties cease hostilities in Syria.
Saudi taking the lead
Saudi Arabia cut ties with Assad's government in 2012 and had long openly championed his ouster. But in 2023 it hosted an Arab League meeting at which Assad was welcomed back into the regional fold.
This month the Gulf kingdom sent food, shelter and medical supplies to Syria over land and by plane.
Riyadh is now negotiating how to support the war-struck country's transition beyond that.
Syrians hold rallies in Paris and across Europe to celebrate fall of Assad
"This summit sends the message that Saudi Arabia wants to take the lead on coordinating the regional effort to support Syria's recovery," said Anna Jacobs, non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
"But the big question is how much time and how many resources will Saudi Arabia devote to this effort? And what is possible with many of the sanctions remaining in place?" she wonders.
(with AFP)
