Syria welcomes lifting of US sanctions

Syria on Tuesday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on the country, calling it a “pivotal turning point,” as celebrations broke out in Damascus. The Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement that the country welcomed Trump’s announcement, calling it a “pivotal turning point for the Syrian people, as we seek to emerge from a long and painful chapter of war.”

“The removal of those sanctions offers a vital opportunity for Syria to pursue stability, self-sufficiency, and meaningful national reconstruction, led by and for the Syrian people,” the statement added.

In a speech given in Riyadh amidst Trump’s trip to the Middle East, the US president said he “will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness.”

Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh said Trump’s lifting of sanctions “will help Syria in building its institutions, providing essential services to the people and will create great opportunities to attract investment and restore confidence in Syria’s future.”

Syrians met the news with joy and celebration, with dozens of men, women and children gathering in Damascus’s Umayyad Square. They blasted music while others drove by in their cars waving Syrian flags.

“My joy is great, this decision will definitely affect the entire country positively. Construction will return, the displaced will return, and prices will go down,” said Huda Qassar, a 33-year-old English language teacher, celebrating with her compatriots.

In the northern province of Idlib, manufacturer Bassam Al-Ahmed, 39, said he was very happy about the lifting of US sanctions. “It is the right of the Syrian people, after 14 years of war and 50 years of the Assads’ oppression, to live through stability and safety,” he said.

“The most important thing is economic stability, which cannot be achieved without lifting American sanctions to increase investment opportunities within Syria and encourage people to work, in addition to securing raw materials and many products that Syria has been deprived of due to sanctions,” he added.