Turkiye calls on EU to lift sanctions on Syria ‘unconditionally’

Turkiye yesterday called on the European Union to “unconditionally” lift sanctions on Syria, ahead of an international donor conference in Brussels scheduled to begin today.

A statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Ankara considers lifting the sanctions “essential” to supporting an “inclusive and peaceful transition” in Syria.

“Syria’s economic security is essential for the country’s stability and security,” the statement added, stressing the need to provide economic opportunities and jobs.

Turkiye, which hosts about three million Syrian refugees, is calling for “comprehensive reconstruction” of the war-torn country to encourage voluntary return.

After the transitional authorities came to power, the European Union suspended sanctions targeting key sectors of the Syrian economy.

However, after unrest broke out in the northwest of the country last week, the European Union threatened to reimpose sanctions if the new government did not fulfill its promises to respect minority rights and include them in the constitutional declaration.

According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, the violence left more than 1,200 dead in just a few days.

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