“These sanctions represent an obstacle to rapid recovery and development for the Syrian people who expect the services and partnerships of other countries,” said Syrian Foreign Minister Asad Hassan al-Shibani after meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and countries.
“We repeat our calls to the US to lift those sanctions that are now against the Syrian people instead of what they were for before: sanctions against the Assad regime,” he said in Doha.
Shibani, on his second foreign trip in less than a month since rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad on December 8, said Qatar would be a partner in Syria’s new phase.
Doha has not normalized relations with Assad after cutting them off over his government’s violent response to protests in 2011, while supporting the Syrian opposition.
Shibani met with Qatari officials accompanied by Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Kasra and the head of the intelligence community, Anas Khattab.
Shibani presented the Qataris with plans for the future of Syria and the steps to be taken by the new Syrian government, Qatar’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Mohamed Al-Khulaifi said.
“We are cooperating to prevent any foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs,” the Qatari state secretary added.
Shibani said the goal is to “rebuild the country, restore Arab and foreign relations, ensure that the Syrian people receive civil and fundamental rights, and present a government that Syrians will feel represents them and all their constituents.”
The Syrian foreign minister will also visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week to “support stability, economic recovery and build special partnerships,” he wrote on the X platform.
His first foreign trip was to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
(Vijesti.ba / HINA)
