UN envoy pushes for sanctions relief to aid Syria’s rebuilding

Giuseppe de vita
Geir Pederson Credit: AP

Damascus (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – UN envoy urges lifting sanctions to support Syria’s rebuilding after Assad’s fall and interim government formation.

A United Nations representative on 15 Dec 2024 called for a swift end to Western sanctions against Syria as the land’s new leaders and regional and global forces begin to chart a way forward following the collapse of President Bashar Assad.

The Syrian regime has been under severe sanctions by the United States, the European Union, and others for years as a consequence of Assad’s brutal reaction to what started as peaceful anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and later twisted into a civil war. The insurgent alliance that expelled Assad and broke his iron hold on the country just days ago confronts a nation wracked and deeply sequestered by tough international sanctions, which compounded Syria’s last economic troubles. 

Why does Geir Pedersen emphasize inclusive political approaches?

The U.N. envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, said that putting Syria back on track after the past few turbulent weeks will be supported by a speedy relief of sanctions.

We can hopefully see a quick end to the sanctions so that we can see a rallying around the building of Syria,

he stated.

Pedersen journeyed to Damascus to sit with officials from the fresh interim administration set up by the ex-opposition parties who overturned Assad, headed by the Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. 

We need to get the political approach underway that is inclusive of all Syrians,

Pedersen expressed. “That approach needs to be headed by the Syrians themselves.” He called for “justice and accountability for crimes” executed during the war and for the international community to form humanitarian assistance.

Territories of Syria’s largest cities remain impaired or destroyed by years of war. Reconstruction has been hampered largely by sanctions that sought to prevent the rebuilding of impaired infrastructure and possessions in government-held zones in the absence of a political resolution.

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Giuseppe De Vita is a journalist at Brussels Morning News, He is covering European politics, Law and Technology news. Lawyer at De Vita & Partners Law Firm specializing in Criminal Law, Military and Space Law, and Cyber Security. In April 2023, he authored the monograph "Governance in Extraterrestrial Space", showcasing his extensive legal expertise. He has acquired vast experience in handling criminal and civil matters, managing litigation before various levels of jurisdiction across the national territory. In 2010, he obtained a Master's degree in Information Technology Law. Additionally, in the same year, he served as a teacher in criminal-IT subjects at the Penitentiary Police School of Portici, providing courses aimed at officials and managers of the Penitentiary Police and the Penitentiary Administration, focusing on IT security. He also serves as a Workplace Safety teacher, conducting training courses at various organizations and educational institutions. Moreover, he is a lecturer on Anti-Corruption and Transparency. The law firm, under his guidance, assists both private and corporate clients in court, accumulating significant experience in criminal and civil disputes over the years. Furthermore, it conducts Risk Management and Compliance, Cyber Resilience, and Cyber Security activities, with a specific focus on privacy protection (EU Regulation 2016/679 - GDPR). Giuseppe frequently publishes articles in legal journals, analyzing various regulatory issues. He has contributed articles to the legal journal Altalex, of which he is also a member of the Scientific Committee.
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