Arab League delegation meets Syria’s Al-Sharaa in Damascus

Ahram Online , Saturday 18 Jan 2025

A delegation from the Arab League, headed by Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki met with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and foreign minister Asaad Al-Shibani in Damascus on Saturday.

LAS
Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (LAS) Hossam Zaki with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during their meeting in Damascus, Syria. Photo courtesy of SANA website.

 

In a press conference with al-Shibani, Zaki said that the Arab League was working with Damascus to lift sanctions on the country, saying that they "are no longer justified," the Syrian news agency, SANA, reported.

During the presser, Zaki added that after the fall of the previous regime of Bashar Al-Assad, the Arab League called early for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria, emphasizing that this is crucial for reviving the economy and fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people. 

Sanctions against Syria have been imposed by the United States, the European Union, and other countries since the 2011 protests. In 2019, the United States intensified its sanctions, passing the so-called Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act.

Additionally, Zaki said that Syria's security impacts Arab national security. “There is widespread Arab interest in what is happening in Syria,” he clarified.

Zaki also said “we are working with the state members to ensure Syria's participation in upcoming meetings.”  

In May 2023, during an emergency meeting in Cairo, the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers approved Syria's reinstatement to the Arab League, reversing the suspension of its membership imposed in November 2011 after the outbreak of protests in the country.

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