United Nations, May 22 (UNI) UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Wednesday welcomed the lifting of sanctions by Western countries against Syria.
In his briefing to the Security Council, Pedersen noted that U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week that he would order the cessation of sanctions on Syria.
The European Union on Tuesday also announced the lifting of its economic sanctions on Syria. Britain revoked its previous sanctions regime last month, he added.
"I have long called for bold steps on sanctions, as have millions of Syrians in and outside the country, and I warmly welcome these international steps," said Pedersen via a video link from Damascus.
He also welcomed the support extended by regional countries to Syria, most notably Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Qatar, including efforts to resolve Syria's outstanding obligations to international financial institutions, support in the payment of public-sector salaries, and ensuring the provision of critical energy resources, in addition to initiatives on sanctions relief.
"These are indeed historic developments. They hold major potential to improve living conditions across the country and to support the Syrian political transition," said Pedersen.
Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, in his statement, pointed out that the lifting of such unilateral sanctions against Syria was long overdue.
"For many years, we consistently pointed out that these illegal, unilateral economic measures seriously hamper the country's recovery and exacerbate the humanitarian situation of civilians. This fact is gradually being recognized in UN entities," he said.
Nebenzia noted Pedersen's comment on how the lifting of sanctions would have a positive impact on Syria in many ways, and asked, "Isn't this just a repetition of what we've been saying for years now?"
Unfortunately, these very clear-cut truths are only now starting to be uttered out loud -- 14 years after the conflict began, he said.
Russia unswervingly supports the mobilization of broad-based humanitarian assistance to all Syrians. Such assistance should be free from discrimination, politicization, and any preconditions -- in keeping with the relevant UN principles on humanitarian assistance, said Nebenzia.
Geng Shuang, charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said China's consistent position is that relevant countries should lift illegal, unilateral sanctions on Syria.
China hopes that the Syrian interim authorities will, in the context of the changing developments, prioritize economic recovery and improvement of livelihood in their governance. The international community, especially traditional donors, should increase assistance to Syria and make greater efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the country, he said.
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