Arab and EU diplomats in Saudi Arabia to discuss support for Syria

 Sunday, January 12, 2025

ISLAMABAD (Point News Today/ Pakistan Point News - 12th Jan, 2025 ) : Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's largest economy, is seeking to expand its influence in Syria, where rebels toppled former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last month, analysts say.

A Saudi official told AFP that a broader international gathering was being held for the talks, including Turkey, France, the European Union and the United Nations.

Newly elected Syrian leader seeks to lift sanctions

Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the main rebel group in the coalition that toppled Assad, is urging the international community to ease sanctions on Syria.

His administration is being represented in the Riyadh talks by Foreign Minister Asad al-Shaibani.

Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions on Assad's government over its brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011.

The crackdown has since plunged Syria into civil war.

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More than half a million Syrians have been killed in the 13-year-old Syrian crisis. The country’s infrastructure has been destroyed and people are living in extreme poverty. Millions of Syrians have fled their homes and fled to Europe and other countries.

Signs of easing sanctions

The US Treasury Department said on Monday it would ease restrictions on essential services such as energy and sanitation, but US officials said they would wait to assess the situation in Syria and see progress before making any broader easing.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief and top diplomat, Kaya Kallis, said on Friday that the 27-nation bloc could begin lifting sanctions if Syria’s new rulers take steps to form an inclusive government that protects minorities.

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European foreign ministers are due to meet on January 27 to discuss the issue.

Kaya Kalas told reporters in Riyadh on Sunday that potential priorities for sanctions relief on Syria include “those that are hindering the building of a country, such as access to banking services.” “If we see that progress is going in the right direction, we are ready to take further steps,” Kallas said, but added that there should also be a “fallback position.”

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German foreign minister’s statement

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbach told reporters in Riyadh that her government wanted a “smart approach” that would allow aid to reach Syrians. However, he also said, “Sanctions against Bashar al-Assad’s supporters, who committed serious crimes during the civil war, must remain in place.

The Syrians must now immediately benefit from the transfer of power.”

The German foreign minister added that Germany would provide Syria with an additional 50 million euros in aid for food, emergency shelter and medical care.

According to the United Nations, seven out of 10 Syrians need help.

The European Union may gradually ease sanctions on Syria

Saudi Arabia’s ties with Syria

The Arab kingdom cut ties with Assad’s government in 2012 and has long openly supported his ouster.

But in 2023 it hosted an Arab League meeting that welcomed Assad back to the regional fold. This month, the Gulf state sent food, temporary shelter and medical supplies to Syria by land and air.

Riyadh is now discussing how to support the war-torn country. “This summit sends a message that Saudi Arabia wants to lead a coordinated regional effort to support Syria’s recovery,” said Anna Jacobs, a nonresident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

“The Syrian foreign minister is in Doha for talks with top Qatari officials.”

But “the big question is how much time and resources will Saudi Arabia devote to this effort? And what does it mean to keep so many sanctions in place?”

A Saudi official said Sunday’s meetings represented a continuation of talks on a post-Assad Syria that began in Jordan last month. “After those talks, diplomats called for a transition of leadership in Syria to form an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government through a transparent process,” he said.