Syria’s new Overseas Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani has spoken solely to Al Jazeera concerning the new administration’s targets, orientation, and progress up to now.
Talking to Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra on New 12 months’s Day, somewhat greater than three weeks after longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad was ousted, al-Shibani was keen to stipulate progress up to now.
The interim administration – led by the commander-in-chief, Ahmed al-Sharaa – is predicted to carry talks on January 5 to debate Syria’s future agenda at a vital Nationwide Dialogue Convention, which can make clear an amazing deal concerning the path ahead.
Sanctions now not assist Syrian individuals
After a brutal wave of repression of protesters in 2011 that led to Syria spiralling into warfare, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland and the US imposed sanctions on the al-Assad regime.
The intention on the time, al-Shibani stated, was to ship a message of assist to the Syrian individuals who have been struggling below the repressive regime.
However now, he argued, the principle purpose for them was gone; the hundreds of detainees that al-Assad saved in “human slaughterhouses” across the nation have been free, and the nation was working to restore the harm.
As such, “steady enforcement [of sanctions] has change into meaningless and ineffective”, al-Shibani famous.
The US had designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – the group led by al-Sharaa which spearheaded the offensive in opposition to al-Assad – a terrorist organisation in 2018, and positioned a $10m reward on him, which might show a complication to lifting the sanctions.
Nevertheless, Barbara Leaf, the US assistant secretary of state for close to japanese affairs, and different officers visited Damascus on December 20, after which she announced dropping the bounty and signalled Washington’s willingness to have interaction.
“We absolutely assist a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political course of that leads to an inclusive and consultant authorities which respects the rights of all Syrians, together with ladies, and Syria’s various ethnic and non secular communities,” Leaf stated.
Partaking with the world
One of many new administration’s key priorities is to stay open to partaking with everybody and rebuilding relations with the surface world, al-Shibani stated.
He is because of go to Saudi Arabia within the coming days throughout which, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra stated from Damascus, the highest diplomat could possibly make progress on Syria’s readmission to the Arab League.
Relations with the US, he identified, would possible be essential, nevertheless it stays to be seen how they might develop.
“Syria right this moment is open to all and able to have interaction with all events, though definitely the event of this administration would possible rely upon the US facet.
“We’re prepared to boost this relation so long as the brand new US administration exhibits willingness,” Ahelbarra stated, referencing the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Addressing considerations raised steadily by non-Syrians concerning the potential for violence in opposition to minorities in Syria, he acknowledged that that they had been talked about in discussions with the US.
Nevertheless, he clarified, the brand new administration is set to deal with everybody as Syrians, not as teams of minorities.
“[A]n American give attention to these points, would possibly inadvertently reinforce divisions inside Syrian society and contribute to its fragmentation,” he stated.
Muhanad Seloom of the Doha Institute of Graduate Research famous that the brand new Syrian administration has come a great distance when it comes to interesting to the worldwide neighborhood.
“For the Syrian administration … I believe they’ve come a great distance [and] additionally proven restraint when it comes to defending the ethnic teams in Syria by not permitting anybody to take the regulation into their very own palms,” he instructed Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera’s Ahelbarra added that because the happiness of al-Assad’s fall wears off, Syrians will begin to look to their new caretaker authorities for assist.
“Right this moment is January 1, 2025, and from right this moment, and within the upcoming days, individuals will begin asking extra questions concerning the challenges forward.
“This new administration promised to extend authorities salaries by 400 p.c. However once they took over the central financial institution, the coffers have been empty … it was all embezzled by the Assad regime,” he famous.