Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM visits Damascus
In 2011, Britain was among the first countries to acknowledge rebel groups as the official Syrian government after then-president Bashar al-Assad's crushing of pro-democracy protests plunged the country into civil war.
London also joined sanctions against Syria and later closed its embassy in Damascus, going on to launch air strikes on Assad's forces.
Assad was ultimately toppled in December after more than 13 years of fighting by a rebel offensive led by Sharaa, now Syria's interim president.
"The UK is reestablishing diplomatic relations because it is in our interests to support the new government to deliver their commitment to build a stable, more secure and prosperous future for all Syrians," Lammy said in a statement.
Photos released by Sharaa's office showed him and Lammy meeting alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.
Their discussions addressed "bilateral ties... and ways of strengthening cooperation, as well as regional and international developments", the presidency said in a statement.
The Syrian foreign ministry issued a similar statement following a separate meeting between Lammy and Shaibani.
Lammy said a stable Syria would benefit Britain by "reducing the risk of irregular migration, ensuring the destruction of chemical weapons" and "tackling the threat of terrorism".
Britain's Foreign Office said Assad's overthrow was an opportunity to "fully declare and destroy Assad's evil chemical weapons programme", adding that London had contributed an additional $2.7 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to help Syria do so.
In 2018, the UK joined US air strikes on Syria's chemical weapons in response to a suspected poison gas attack by Assad's forces.
Syria has experienced a flurry of diplomatic activity in the months since Islamist-led forces ousted Assad.
In May, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra met with an official British delegation, the defence ministry said at the time.
In April, the British government announced it was lifting sanctions imposed on Syria's interior and defence ministries under Assad.
It also said it was removing sanctions against various media groups and intelligence agencies, as well as on some sectors of the economy including financial services and energy production.
A month earlier, it ended sanctions on 24 entities including Syria's central bank.
The United States has also lifted sanctions on Syria and is planning to remove it from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Last month, Damascus carried out its first electronic transfer through the international banking system since the imposition of sanctions.
The growing international backing comes as Syria's new leaders attempt to rebuild the country and reboot its moribund economy, both ravaged by the conflict and crippling sanctions.
Britain's Foreign Office said London had committed an extra $129 million to provide "urgent humanitarian aid" and support Syria's reconstruction as well as countries hosting Syrian refugees.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Ship attacked in Red Sea near Yemen, likely by Houthis, say officials
Houthi fighters near red sea as a cargo vessel is in the background. PHOTO: AFP Listen to article A ship came under attack in the Red Sea off the southwest coast of Yemen on Sunday, a British maritime agency and a security firm said, in an assault that one of them said bore the hallmarks of the Houthi group. Maritime security sources said the vessel, which they identified as the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas, had taken on water after being hit by sea drones. The ship was first targeted by gunfire and self-propelled grenades launched from eight small boats, with armed security on the ship returning fire, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and British maritime security firm Ambrey said in advisories. Ambrey said in a separate advisory that the ship was later attacked by four Unmanned Surface Vehicles. Read more: US, Israel bomb Yemen "Two of the USVs impacted the port side of the vessel, damaging the vessel's cargo," Ambrey added. UKMTO said the attack resulted in a fire onboard and that the incident was ongoing. There were no reports of injuries among the crew, a source at maritime security company Diaplous said. The vessel's operator was not immediately available for comment. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Ambrey assessed the vessel "to meet the established Houthi target profile". It was the first such incident reported by the agencies in the area since mid-April. Tensions in the Middle East remain high over the war in Gaza and after the 12-day Israel-Iran war and airstrikes by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites in June. Sunday's attack occurred 51 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, the UKMTO and Ambrey said. Also read: Israel attacks secret Houthi meeting site in Yemen Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis launched more than 100 attacks targeting shipping from November 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war with Hamas. During that period, the group sank two ships, seized another and killed at least four seafarers in an offensive that disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to reroute, prompting the US to intensify attacks on the group this year. In May, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen, saying that the group had agreed to stop interrupting important shipping lanes in the Middle East. Under the agreement, neither the US nor the Houthis would target the other, including US ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, Oman said in a statement at the time. Later in June, Yemen's Houthis threatened to target US ships in the Red Sea if Washington became involved in Israeli attacks on Iran. They have not specified whether they will follow through on their threat after the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities last month.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan in no hurry to recognise Afghan Taliban rule
Listen to article Pakistan is in no hurry to recognise the Afghan Taliban government, officials said on Saturday days after Russia became the first country to formally accept Taliban controlled Kabul as legitimate dispensation. Moscow's decision, some observers feel, may be a prelude to other regional countries finally embracing the Taliban. However, officials in Pakistan said the decision of Russia was not a surprise as Moscow for sometimes had indicated they would reconcile with the fact that the Taliban were now in charge and there was no other option but to accept their rule. The Russian decision also stems from the fact that greater engagement with the Taliban government would help address terrorist threat and advance its geostrategic interests. Moscow fears that without engagement with the Taliban government would hand advantage to its adversaries mainly the United States to undermine its interests. 'We of course will take decision keeping in view our interest. I can tell you there is no hurry,' said a Pakistani official when asked whether Islamabad would also recgonize the Taliban rule. The source, however, did not rule out the possibility of Pakistan taking more pragmatic approach if other regional players follow the Russian footsteps. At his weekly news briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan reacted cautiously to Moscow's decision, saying it was a matter of between two sovereign states. In any case, the source said, Pakistan has robust engagement with the Taliban ruled Kabul. 'The de facto recognition is there,' the source said. Pakistan, although has given no hinted about officially recognising the Taliban government, agreed to upgrade the diplomat ties. Last month after a trilateral meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Chinese Foreign Ministers meeting in Beijing led Islamabad and Kabul to elevate their diplomatic ties. Both sides are in a process to fulfill the responsibilities before formally appointing Ambassadors in each other's capitals. China is thought to have played a key role in brokering the deal in the hope that greater engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan would address security concerns. One of the reasons that Pakistan has not yet recognised the Taliban government is the unresolved issue of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan. The Afghan government recently took certain steps, which Pakistan thinks, could make the difference. One major such move includes the Taliban government's crackdown on Afghan nationals who were joining the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Taliban Amir also issued a fresh decree barring Afghans from so-called 'Jihad' against Pakistan. There were also reports that the Taliban government after recent terrorist attacks in North Waziristan started disarming groups living close to the border. Sources said that it is in Taliban's interest to address security concerns of Pakistan and other neighbouring countries. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the visit of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul are gradually improving with increased exchanges. Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is expected to travel to Islamabad later this month. He was to visit Pakistan last month but the trip was delayed due to Iran-Israel war. During his visit, the two sides would review bilateral ties and decisions taken when Dar was in Kabul in April.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM visits Damascus
Britain reestablished full diplomatic relations with Syria on Saturday, more than a decade after cutting ties, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy met the country's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. In 2011, Britain was among the first countries to acknowledge rebel groups as the official Syrian government after then-president Bashar al-Assad's crushing of pro-democracy protests plunged the country into civil war. London also joined sanctions against Syria and later closed its embassy in Damascus, going on to launch air strikes on Assad's forces. Assad was ultimately toppled in December after more than 13 years of fighting by a rebel offensive led by Sharaa, now Syria's interim president. "The UK is reestablishing diplomatic relations because it is in our interests to support the new government to deliver their commitment to build a stable, more secure and prosperous future for all Syrians," Lammy said in a statement. Photos released by Sharaa's office showed him and Lammy meeting alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. Their discussions addressed "bilateral ties... and ways of strengthening cooperation, as well as regional and international developments", the presidency said in a statement. The Syrian foreign ministry issued a similar statement following a separate meeting between Lammy and Shaibani. Lammy said a stable Syria would benefit Britain by "reducing the risk of irregular migration, ensuring the destruction of chemical weapons" and "tackling the threat of terrorism". Britain's Foreign Office said Assad's overthrow was an opportunity to "fully declare and destroy Assad's evil chemical weapons programme", adding that London had contributed an additional $2.7 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to help Syria do so. In 2018, the UK joined US air strikes on Syria's chemical weapons in response to a suspected poison gas attack by Assad's forces. Syria has experienced a flurry of diplomatic activity in the months since Islamist-led forces ousted Assad. In May, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra met with an official British delegation, the defence ministry said at the time. In April, the British government announced it was lifting sanctions imposed on Syria's interior and defence ministries under Assad. It also said it was removing sanctions against various media groups and intelligence agencies, as well as on some sectors of the economy including financial services and energy production. A month earlier, it ended sanctions on 24 entities including Syria's central bank. The United States has also lifted sanctions on Syria and is planning to remove it from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. Last month, Damascus carried out its first electronic transfer through the international banking system since the imposition of sanctions. The growing international backing comes as Syria's new leaders attempt to rebuild the country and reboot its moribund economy, both ravaged by the conflict and crippling sanctions. Britain's Foreign Office said London had committed an extra $129 million to provide "urgent humanitarian aid" and support Syria's reconstruction as well as countries hosting Syrian refugees.
