European Union sanctions in Syria that impact humanitarian aid delivery and hinder recovery efforts could soon be lifted, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday.
Speaking to France Inter radio, Barrot suggested that the EU may follow the United States, which recently issued a six-month sanctions exemption to ease humanitarian assistance after the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
"There are other (sanctions), which today hinder access to humanitarian aid, which hinder the recovery of the country. These could be lifted quickly," Barrot said. He also indicated that lifting broader political sanctions would depend on Syria’s leadership during the transition period.
Three European diplomats, speaking anonymously, stated that the EU may agree on easing some sanctions ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Brussels on 27 January. Measures under discussion include facilitating financial transactions, improving air transport, and lessening energy-related sanctions to boost power supplies.
Syria currently experiences severe power shortages, with electricity available for only two to three hours daily. The caretaker government plans to increase this to eight hours within two months.
The U.S. waivers, effective until 7 July, allow limited energy transactions and personal remittances but do not remove existing sanctions.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, President Miriana Egger, calls for international humanitarian law to be respected in Syria. She made this statement at the end of her three-day visit to the country, during which she toured the cities of Aleppo and Idlib.
Azerbaijan has dispatched its first humanitarian aid convoy to Syria, carrying approximately 200 tons of essential supplies. The convoy is set to travel through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey before reaching the city of Idlib, where the aid will be distributed to those in need.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the United Nations' crucial role in supporting Syria’s transition, advocating for an inclusive political process and humanitarian aid during a meeting with UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen in Aqaba, Jordan.
The Israeli military said it plans to reopen the Kissufim crossing into central Gaza so that the flow of aid into the Strip can be increased.
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has barricaded himself in his Seoul residence for a fifth day as authorities seek his arrest on insurrection charges. Amid rising protests and tensions, the standoff follows Yoon's controversial martial law decree and subsequent impeachment.
Devastating wildfires fueled by powerful winds force mass evacuations in Los Angeles, scorching homes and landmarks as firefighters battle uncontained blazes across the region.
Poland has closed its Consulate General in St. Petersburg after Russia ordered its shutdown in retaliation for Warsaw’s closure of the Russian consulate in Poznań. The move highlights escalating diplomatic tensions, with both sides accusing each other of hostile actions.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry is working with Eritrean authorities to secure the release of 18 Azerbaijani citizens detained after their vessels entered Eritrean waters on November 7, 2024, due to severe weather. The crew faces charges of unauthorized entry.
Fuel vendors in Damascus are thriving in the post-Assad era, providing much-needed gasoline and diesel to Syrians after years of repression under the former regime. The shift has brought newfound freedom and relief from years of repression.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has highlighted the importance of improved coordination between military and civilian services following the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, which resulted in 38 fatalities.
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Tibet's Himalayan foothills, killing at least 100 and shaking Nepal, Bhutan, and India. Tremors reached as far as Kathmandu and Thimphu.
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has barricaded himself in his Seoul residence for a fifth day as authorities seek his arrest on insurrection charges. Amid rising protests and tensions, the standoff follows Yoon's controversial martial law decree and subsequent impeachment.
Devastating wildfires fueled by powerful winds force mass evacuations in Los Angeles, scorching homes and landmarks as firefighters battle uncontained blazes across the region.
Poland has closed its Consulate General in St. Petersburg after Russia ordered its shutdown in retaliation for Warsaw’s closure of the Russian consulate in Poznań. The move highlights escalating diplomatic tensions, with both sides accusing each other of hostile actions.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry is working with Eritrean authorities to secure the release of 18 Azerbaijani citizens detained after their vessels entered Eritrean waters on November 7, 2024, due to severe weather. The crew faces charges of unauthorized entry.
Fuel vendors in Damascus are thriving in the post-Assad era, providing much-needed gasoline and diesel to Syrians after years of repression under the former regime. The shift has brought newfound freedom and relief from years of repression.
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has barricaded himself in his Seoul residence for a fifth day as authorities seek his arrest on insurrection charges. Amid rising protests and tensions, the standoff follows Yoon's controversial martial law decree and subsequent impeachment.
Devastating wildfires fueled by powerful winds force mass evacuations in Los Angeles, scorching homes and landmarks as firefighters battle uncontained blazes across the region.
Poland has closed its Consulate General in St. Petersburg after Russia ordered its shutdown in retaliation for Warsaw’s closure of the Russian consulate in Poznań. The move highlights escalating diplomatic tensions, with both sides accusing each other of hostile actions.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry is working with Eritrean authorities to secure the release of 18 Azerbaijani citizens detained after their vessels entered Eritrean waters on November 7, 2024, due to severe weather. The crew faces charges of unauthorized entry.
Fuel vendors in Damascus are thriving in the post-Assad era, providing much-needed gasoline and diesel to Syrians after years of repression under the former regime. The shift has brought newfound freedom and relief from years of repression.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment