The UN Special Envoy called for the swift lifting of sanctions against Syria
The UN Special Envoy for Syria called for the rapid lifting of Western sanctions against the country following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government
Geir Pedersen said on Sunday, December 16, during a meeting with reporters in Damascus, that returning Syria to a normal path after the turbulent weeks requires the swift lifting of sanctions
Mr. Pedersen also expressed hope that the sanctions would soon end so that unity and focus on rebuilding Syria could take shape
The Syrian government has been under severe sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and other countries for years. These sanctions were imposed due to the violent response of Bashar al-Assad, the deposed president of the country, to peaceful anti-government protests in 2011, which then turned into a civil war
According to Geir Pedersen, a political process should now begin in Syria so that Syrians can participate and also lead this process themselves
