The United Nations envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, arrived in Damascus today, where he called for the rapid lifting of Western sanctions after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
His spokeswoman, Jennifer Fenton, told AFP earlier that he had arrived and was expected to speak upon arrival, but she did not specify what his program was.
The Syrian government has been under heavy sanctions from the US, the European Union and other countries for years as a result of Assad's brutal response to peaceful anti-government protests that began in 2011 and later turned into civil war.
Almost half a million people died in the conflict and displaced half of the 23 million inhabitants that existed before the war. Reconstruction has been largely hampered by sanctions aimed at preventing the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure and property in government-controlled areas until a political solution is found.
"We hope that the sanctions will be lifted quickly so that we can see a rally around the construction of Syria," Pedersen told reporters during a visit to Damascus.
He came to Damascus to meet with officials of the new transitional government installed by the former rebel forces that ousted Assad, led by the militant Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
In an eleven-day offensive launched from the northwestern city of Idlib, a coalition of rebel factions led by the radical Sunni group HTS captured a large part of the country from government forces, including the main stronghold of Damascus, and on December 8 ended the XNUMX-year rule of the Assad family.
The group, led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, says it has stopped extremism, but is still classified as a terrorist group by several Western countries, including the United States.
In recent days, Pedersen called for the establishment of "inclusive" transitional authorities to avoid "a new civil war in Syria".
That the HTS group is listed as a terrorist group by several countries, including the US, could complicate rebuilding efforts, but officials in Washington have indicated that President Joe Biden's administration is considering delisting them.
The transitional government is supposed to rule until March, but has not yet clearly explained the process through which the new permanent administration will replace it.
"We need to start a political process that is inclusive for all Syrians. That process should obviously be led by Syrians themselves," said Pedersen.
He also called "for justice and responsibility for the crimes" committed during the war, and the international community to increase humanitarian aid.
In neighboring Jordan, Pedersen took part in talks yesterday with American, Arab, European and Turkish diplomats. They agreed that the transition process should be led by the Syrians themselves, and to reach an inclusive and representative government, the joint statement stated.
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