The UN special envoy called for the swift lifting of sanctions against Syria.
The UN special envoy for Syria called for the swift lifting of Western sanctions against the country following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Geir Pedersen said on Sunday, December 25th, in a meeting with journalists 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 can 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 ousted president of this country, to peaceful anti-government protests in 2011, which then turned into a civil war.
According to Geir Pedersen, a political process must now begin in Syria so that Syrians can participate in and lead this process themselves.
