Russia: 'We are talking with US about easing sanctions against Syria'

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that his country is discussing with the United States the possibility of easing sanctions imposed on Syria.

“Yes, we are talking about it,” Nebenzya said, during a press statement he issued on Friday, after the Un Security Council approved a draft resolution prepared by Russia, the United States, Ireland and Norway on extending the work of the mechanism for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria across the border.

However, Nebenzya refused to answer a question about the extent of the United States’ readiness for realizing this step, stating: “We’ll see.”

Since 2004, the United States has imposed a series of sanctions on Syria and its authorities, and intensified the use of this mechanism, especially after the outbreak of the crisis in the country in 2011.

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On 17 June 2020, the United States started implementing the Caesar Act, according to which sanctions were imposed on 39 individuals and entities linked to the Syrian regime, including the country’s president, Bashar Al-Assad, and his wife, Asma Al-Assad.

These sanctions target the main sectors of the Syrian economy, the regime, and internal and external parties that support the government’s military operations, at a time when the United States seizes the largest Syrian oil fields and seeks to prevent Damascus from regaining control over its energy resources.

On 7 May, US President Joe Biden signed an order extending US sanctions against Syria for one year.

 Source: Agencies