Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan underscored on Sunday the importance of lifting sanctions that are imposed on Syria, saying that keeping them in place can impede its development aspirations.
Prince Faisal said that “unilateral and international sanctions against Syria should be lifted as keeping them in place will obstruct the brotherly Syrian people’s ambitions to achieve development.”
The top diplomat’s comments came during a statement he made after concluding the Riyadh Meetings on Syria.
The Saudi capital hosted Arab, European and international diplomats to address the situation in Syria after the fall of al-Assad. Al-Assad was ousted last month in a lightning offensive after 13 years of civil war.
Syria’s new administration has been urging for a lift of sanctions by the West to help international funding flow to Damascus.
Prince Faisal also noted that the attendees at the Riyadh meetings welcomed the “positive” measures that the new leadership has taken including preserving state institutions, initiating dialogue among the different Syrian sides and its commitment to combat terrorism.
The attendees also “stressed the importance of continuing humanitarian, economic support” as well as offering support to develop the Syrian state’s capabilities, maintaining stability, initiating the rebuilding process as well as establishing an environment that allows the return of the refugees and those displaced by the war, Prince Faisal said.
A statement that was released later in the evening reiterated the top diplomat’s comments, while also highlighting that during the meeting “steps were discussed to support the brotherly Syrian people and provide them with all assistance and support during this important stage in its history, and to help them rebuild Syria as a unified, independent Arab state that is safe for all its citizens,” and that has no place for terrorism while its sovereignty is protected.
The officials also expressed their support for a Syrian political transitional process that involves all the various constituents.
The attendees “expressed their concern about Israel’s incursion into the buffer zone with Syria and its neighboring sites in Mount Hermon and the Quneitra Governorate, stressing the importance of respecting Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
Al Arabiya
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