In a landmark step toward addressing Syria’s future, European foreign ministers have agreed to convene at the end of January to discuss the potential lifting of sanctions on the war-torn country. The decision was announced as foreign ministers and top diplomats from Western nations and the Middle East gathered in Riyadh for the first regional summit since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad last month.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, confirmed on Sunday that the EU’s 27-member bloc would hold talks in Brussels on January 27 to deliberate its approach to the sanctions issue. Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, Kallas emphasized that the EU’s position would hinge on the formation of an inclusive Syrian government that respects fundamental rights, including those of women and minority groups.
“The EU is prepared to consider changes, but any openings on sanctions can be swiftly reversed if there are signs of radicalization or regression in Syria’s new administration,” Kallas warned, striking a cautious tone.
Sunday’s discussions in Riyadh brought together foreign ministers and senior officials from a wide range of countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Türkiye. The primary focus of the talks was Syria’s reconstruction and reintegration into the regional and international community.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, called for an end to the sanctions, arguing that their continuation undermines Syria’s ability to recover. “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 said during a post-meeting press briefing.
Syria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, also added to the discussion by reiterating a to-be-lifting-constraint-economic view of the Assad government. Al-Shaibani, a leading proponent of the impact of sanctions on Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction, described these measures as an impediment to Syria’s post-conflict restoration after 12 years of armed conflict.
The meeting in Riyadh is an indication of a shift in the regional power relations, with Arab states increasingly raising their voices against Syria’s return to the Arab fold. Sanctions have become so outdated in the eyes of local authorities that their removal may help the country after all not only to maintain the stability of the country, but also to solve some of the pressing national problems, such as the refugees’ migration or terrorism.
However, European leaders remain divided on the matter. If countries in the EU are however supporting and advocating for sanctions to be eased in order to facilitate the dialogue and better the situation, some others subscribe to the principle that easing of sanctions must be conditional on substantiating human rights and political arrangements in Syria. According to the Brussels meeting, one may assume that this will become a turning point for how the group would like to respond.
Observers report that the dialogues in Riyadh point to the growing understanding that there is a need for concerted/coordinated international response to the situation in Syria. The presence of Western and home-born authorities in the dynamics underlines the paramount role played by collaboration as the foundation of Syria’s future after the Assad regime.
As the January 27 meeting is drawing close, the European Union response to the complex challenge of how to accommodate to Syria’s postwar reconstruction in favor of determined to prosecute past atrocities will be closely scrutinized in Brussels. The outcome could set the stage for international relations with Syria in the future.
