Syria's new leadership urges Qatar to support lifting of US sanctions
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The Qatari prime minister reaffirms his country's support for Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
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This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA shows Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, left, meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, January 5, 2025. (SANA)
Syria's transitional government ministers made their first official visit to Qatar since the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad, urging the United States to lift sanctions on Damascus.
The delegation, which included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, met with senior Qatari officials during the trip.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani reaffirmed his country's support for Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty, according to a statement from Qatar's Foreign Ministry.
Push for sanctions relief
Shaibani mentioned that US sanctions are hindering Syria's recovery efforts. Speaking to local media, he called the measures "a barrier and an obstacle to the rapid recovery" and renewed the government's demand for their removal.
Discussions with Qatar's Minister of State, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, also highlighted plans for Syria's reconstruction and political transition. Shaibani stated that the transitional government aims to establish "very good relations with the region," distancing itself from the policies of the Assad regime.
At the end of last month, Qatar echoed calls for the swift lifting of sanctions on Syria. However, the international community remains cautious, opting to monitor how the new leadership manages its power before adjusting economic restrictions.
Regional engagement
Shaibani announced plans to visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan after Qatar, with the goal of fostering regional partnerships. "We look forward to these visits contributing to supporting stability, security, economic recovery, and building distinguished partnerships," he wrote on X.
كان اجتماعنا مع الأشقاء في قطر عميقا وموسعا ناقشنا فيه القضايا الأساسية والاستراتيجية، كما شرحنا خارطة الطريق لدينا لإعادة بناء بلدنا، وتمكين الشعب السوري من حقوقه المدنية، وبناء حكومة تمثل كافة مكونات الشعب.
— أسعد حسن الشيباني (@Asaad_Shaibani) January 5, 2025
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Qatar, a former key supporter of the Syrian opposition during the war, reopened its embassy in Damascus following Assad's ouster, becoming the second country to do so after Turkiye.
Read more: Syria's new leadership asserts strategic alliance with Russia
The war on Syria, which began in 2011 as a result of imperialist ambitions and economic pressures, destabilized the nation and evolved into a conflict exploited by global powers for strategic gain.
With al-Assad's removal, the new government is seen as seeking to rebuild relationships and lay out a roadmap for Syria's future.
Khulaifi noted that Syria's leadership had outlined "a clear roadmap for Syria in the near future and the steps that will be taken by the leadership and political administration in Syria."
