The United Nations, the United States, and the United Kingdom have removed the sanctions imposed on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab.
The development is the climax of months of diplomacy by Washington, which rallied the 15-member UN Security Council. The US-drafted resolution was on Thursday endorsed by 14 nations; China abstained.
The adoption “sends a strong political signal that recognizes Syria is in a new era since Assad and his associates were toppled,” according to Mike Waltz, US ambassador to the UN.
UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, James Kariuki, said Britain has consistently stood by the people of Syria, and will continue to support the nation to “build a more stable, free, and prosperous future.”
On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delisted President al-Sharaa–who is listed under the name Muhammad al-Jawlani—as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
The State Department also announced that the Department of the Treasury has delisted Anas Hasan Khattab as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
The government said the actions were taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, whose family ruled for more than 50 years.
The new administration is working hard to find missing Americans, fight terrorism and narcotics, eliminate remnants of chemical weapons, and promote internal and regional security, the U.S. noted.
President Donald Trump will host al-Sharaa at the White House on November 10, the first Syrian head to visit in more than 80 years. Both leaders met in May during a summit in Saudi Arabia.
President al-Sharaa, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, is expected to sign an agreement to join an international US-led alliance against ISIL.
Speaking in Bahrain, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani dubbed the trip to Washington “a new chapter”, adding that: “We want to establish a very strong partnership.”
In a statement on the UN Security Council resolution, al-Shaibani affirmed Syria is making progress “in removing obstacles and paving the way toward a more open and stable future.”
