Washington announces its support for lifting the “Caesar Act” sanctions on Syria news

Yesterday, Friday, the US State Department announced its support for canceling the sanctions imposed on Syria under the “Caesar Act” through the National Defense Authorization Bill that US lawmakers are currently discussing on the Congressional agenda.

A State Department spokesman said, “The United States is in regular contact with its partners in the region, and welcomes any investment or participation in Syria that supports the opportunity for all Syrians to build a state where peace and prosperity prevail.”

A spokeswoman from the ministry stated – in a written statement – in response to a question by an Anadolu correspondent, “The American administration supports lifting the Caesar Act. Congress should include this lifting in the National Defense Authorization Act.”

The statement added that lifting sanctions on Syria will preserve the integrity of Washington’s primary goal of defeating ISIS once and for all, and will give the Syrian people a chance for a better future. ​​​​​​

Despite the wide-ranging exemptions, the tougher measures, known as Caesar sanctions, must be repealed through the US Congress, which is still divided on the issue but is expected to make a decision before the end of the year.

On December 11, 2019, Congress approved the Caesar Act to punish members of the regime of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for war crimes they committed against civilians in Syria.

However, the continuation of this law after the demise of Bashar’s regime negatively affects the Syrian people, as it imposes sanctions on any local or foreign entity that invests or deals with the country in sectors such as energy, aviation, construction, and banking.

Saudi companies intend to pump billions of dollars in investments into Syria as part of Riyadh’s efforts to support this country’s recovery. Last May, the Kingdom hosted a historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Syrian counterpart Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the capital, Riyadh, during which Trump announced his intention to lift all sanctions imposed on Damascus.