Syria’s new International Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani has spoken solely to Al Jazeera in regards to the new administration’s objectives, orientation, and progress to this point.
Talking to Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra on New Yr’s Day, a bit of greater than three weeks after longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad was ousted, al-Shaibani was keen to stipulate progress to this point.
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 is able to make clear a fantastic deal in regards to 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 conflict, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland and america imposed sanctions on the al-Assad regime.
The purpose on the time, al-Shaibani 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 primary motive for them was gone; the 1000’s 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-Shaibani 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.
Nonetheless, 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 totally 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 girls, and Syria’s various ethnic and non secular communities,” Leaf stated.
Participating with the world
One of many new administration’s key priorities is to stay open to participating with everybody and rebuilding relations with the surface world, al-Shaibani 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 doubtless be essential, nevertheless it stays to be seen how they might develop.
“Syria immediately is open to all and able to interact with all events, though actually the event of this administration would doubtless rely on the US aspect.
“We’re prepared to reinforce this relation so long as the brand new US administration reveals willingness,” Ahelbarra stated, referencing the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Addressing issues raised ceaselessly by non-Syrians in regards to the potential for violence in opposition to minorities in Syria, he acknowledged that that they had been talked about in discussions with the US.
Nonetheless, he clarified, the brand new administration is decided to deal with everybody as Syrians, not as teams of minorities.
“[A]n American concentrate on 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 good distance when it comes to interesting to the worldwide neighborhood.
“For the Syrian administration … I feel they’ve come a good distance [and] additionally proven restraint when it comes to defending the ethnic teams in Syria by not permitting anybody to take the legislation 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.
“At present is January 1, 2025, and from immediately, and within the upcoming days, individuals will begin asking extra questions in regards to the challenges forward.
“This new administration promised to extend authorities salaries by 400 %. However once they took over the central financial institution, the coffers have been empty … it was all embezzled by the Assad regime,” he famous.
