Shara: Lifting Sanctions is a Step in the Right Direction, and Syria is Regaining its International Standing
Syrian President Ahmad Shara praised the UN Security Council’s decision to lift sanctions imposed on his country, describing the move as “a step in the right direction” and an indication of the beginning of a new phase of Syrian openness to the world.
In an interview with the newspaper Al-Sharq on the sidelines of the climate summit (COP30) in Brazil, Shara characterized the decision as a “positive precedent” that reflects a rare international consensus on an issue concerning Syria, noting that his country “has succeeded in bringing together nations that typically struggle to agree on a single stance.”
He clarified that the lifting of sanctions was the result of efforts from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan, along with support from European nations such as France, Britain, Italy, and Spain, as well as “positive backing” from Russia and China. He commended the role of the United States and its President Donald Trump, stating that he “has shown a clear openness towards Syria.”
The Syrian president emphasized that his country has begun “to regain its regional and international status,” stressing that “the safety of Syria is tied to the safety of the region,” and that the rapprochement between Damascus and Riyadh enhances common security. He also considered that “the last ten months have witnessed the birth of a new Syria that is open to everyone after decades of isolation.”
Shara pointed out that his upcoming visit to the White House on September 10 will represent an opportunity “to deeply discuss the future of Syrian-American relations,” highlighting that his country seeks to build “balanced and strategic relationships with various countries around the world.”
He concluded by stating that Syria’s participation in the climate summit represents “an opportunity to reintroduce itself in a new light on the international stage,” asserting that the meetings he conducted in Brazil “lay the foundation for various partnerships that cement Syria’s return to its natural position in the world.”
