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Shara Calls on Britain to Lift Sanctions on Syria
Ahmed Al-Shara, Commander of Military Operations, urged the British government to lift the economic sanctions imposed on Syria following the fall of the Assad regime, during a meeting with a high-level delegation from the British Foreign Office in Damascus.
Al-Shara met with Stephen Hickey, Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the British Foreign Office, and the British envoy to Syria, Anne Snot, in a visit considered the first of its kind since Assad's fall, which included a meeting with Al-Shara.
During the meeting, Al-Shara expressed that what happened in Syria represents "a victory for the oppressed people over the criminal oppressor," noting that this victory was achieved without destroying infrastructure or causing significant displacement.
He also pointed to the severe damage that the previous regime inflicted on Syria, including the destruction of state institutions and the targeting of various sects, emphasizing the importance of building a state based on law and institutions and restoring security.
Al-Shara added that there is an urgent need to restore relations between Britain and Syria, stressing the necessity of lifting all sanctions imposed on the country to enable Syrians around the world to return to their homeland.
For his part, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that his country is engaging in diplomatic communications with "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" in Syria, with a high-level delegation sent to Damascus to discuss matters with the new government.
In a statement to the British media, Lammy said: "Although Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham remains a banned terrorist organization in the UK, we can engage in diplomatic communications with them to ensure the establishment of a representative government and the protection of chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria."
Lammy expressed a desire to see a representative and inclusive government, in addition to securing chemical weapons stockpiles and preventing the continuation of violence.
He clarified that "based on these goals, we are using all available channels, whether diplomatic or intelligence, to seek engagement with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham as needed."
Lammy reaffirmed Britain's commitment to working diplomatically to promote better governance for Syria's future, emphasizing the importance of the future Syrian government bringing together all parties to achieve stability and the respect that the Syrian people deserve.
