Latest news with #AhmedalSharaa
Reuters
5 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Turkey's Erdogan, Syria's Sharaa hold talks in Istanbul
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was holding talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on Saturday (May 24), news channel CNN Turk and state media said, broadcasting video of the two leaders greeting each other. Ciara Lee reports.
Al Arabiya
25-05-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Syria reboots interior ministry as Damascus seeks to reassure the West
Syrian authorities on Saturday announced an interior ministry restructuring that includes fighting cross-border drug and people smuggling as they seek to improve ties with Western nations that have lifted sanctions. Keen to reboot and rebuild nearly 14 years after a devastating civil war broke out, the new authorities in Damascus have hailed Washington's lifting of US sanctions. The move was formalized Friday after being announced by President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he shook hands with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said the interior ministry restructure included reforms and creating 'a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human rights standards.' It includes setting up a citizens' complaints department and incorporating the police and General Security agency into an Internal Security command, he told a press conference. A border security body for Syria's land and sea frontiers will be tasked with 'combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks,' al-Baba said. The restructure includes 'strengthening the role of the anti-drug department and further developing its importance within Syria and abroad' after the country became a major exporter of illicit stimulant captagon, he added. Another department will handle security for government facilities and foreign missions, as embassies reopen in Syria following Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December. A tourism police body will secure visitors and sites as the war-torn country -- home to renowned UNESCO World Heritage sites -- seeks to relaunch tourism. 'Of critical importance' Syria's foreign ministry welcomed Washington's lifting of sanctions, calling the move 'a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country.' Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said the recent US and European Union steps to lift sanctions were 'of critical importance in efforts to bring stability and security to Syria.' The European Union announced the lifting of its economic sanctions on Syria earlier this month. Al-Sharaa met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday on his third visit to Turkey since taking power on a visit to discuss 'common issues,' Syria's presidency said. Ankara is a major backer of Syria's new authorities, who are negotiating with Kurdish forces that control swathes of the northeast and that Turkey considers 'terrorists.' A government delegation made a first visit Saturday to the notorious Al-Hol camp in the northeast that hosts families of suspected ISIS extremists. Trump said he wanted to give Syria's new rulers 'a chance at greatness' after their overthrow of al-Assad. While in Istanbul, al-Sharaa met with the US ambassador to Turkey, who doubles as Washington's Syria envoy. In a statement, Tom Barrack said: 'President Trump's goal is to enable the new government to create the conditions for the Syrian people to not only survive but thrive.' He added that it would aid Washington's 'primary objective' of ensuring the 'enduring defeat' of ISIS. US sanctions were first imposed on Syria in 1979 under the rule of Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez. They were sharply expanded after the bloody repression of anti-government protests in 2011 triggered Syria's civil war. The new administration has been looking to build relations with the West and roll back sanctions, but some governments expressed reluctance, pointing to the extremist past of leading figures. 'Recovery and reconstruction' The sanctions relief extends to the new government on condition that Syria does not provide safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensure security for religious and ethnic minorities, the US Treasury Department said. Concurrently, the US State Department issued a 180-day waiver for the Caesar Act to make sure that sanctions do not obstruct foreign investment in Syria. The 2020 legislation severely sanctioned any entity or company cooperating with the now ousted government. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the waiver would 'facilitate the provision of electricity, energy, water and sanitation, and enable a more effective humanitarian response across Syria.' However, Rubio cautioned that Trump 'has made clear his expectation that relief will be followed by prompt action by the Syrian government on important policy priorities.' He said lifting the sanctions aims to promote 'recovery and reconstruction efforts.' Syria's 14-year civil war killed more than half a million people and ravaged its infrastructure. The interior ministry's spokesman said around a third of the population had been under suspicion by the al-Assad government's feared intelligence and security services. Analysts say a full lifting of sanctions may take time, as some US restrictions are acts that need to be reversed by Congress. Syrian authorities also need to ensure an attractive environment for foreign investment.
NHK
25-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
Erdogan meets Syrian interim president, soon after US sanction relief
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on Saturday. The meeting came soon after the US President Donald Trump's administration eased sanctions on Syria. The US said on Friday it had issued a general license that allows activities previously prohibited under the sanctions. New investment in Syria and transactions with the country's transitional government are now allowed. The Turkish presidential office said Erdogan welcomed the de facto Syrian leader's visit and stressed that Turkey will strengthen cooperation with Syria, especially in the field of energy. Turkey is apparently trying to step up economic engagement in Syria. Syria's economy has been under strain due to years of internal conflict since 2011, and rebuilding it is a major challenge. The interim government had repeatedly called on Western nations to lift sanctions which had been imposed on the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Syria reboots interior ministry as Damascus seeks to reassure West
Syrian authorities on Saturday announced an interior ministry restructuring that includes fighting cross-border drug and people smuggling as they seek to improve ties with Western nations that have lifted sanctions. Keen to reboot and rebuild nearly 14 years after a devastating civil war broke out, the new authorities in Damascus have hailed Washington's lifting of US sanctions. The move was formalised Friday after being announced by President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he shook hands with Syria's jihadist-turned-interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said the interior ministry restructure included reforms and creating "a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human rights standards". It includes setting up a citizens' complaints department and incorporating the police and General Security agency into an Internal Security command, he told a press conference. A border security body for Syria's land and sea frontiers will be tasked with "combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks", Baba said. The restructure includes "strengthening the role of the anti-drug department and further developing its importance within Syria and abroad" after the country became a major exporter of illicit stimulant captagon, he added. Another department will handle security for government facilities and foreign missions, as embassies reopen in Syria following Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December. A tourism police body will secure visitors and sites as the war-torn country -- home to renowned UNESCO World Heritage sites -- seeks to relaunch tourism. - 'Of critical importance' - Syria's foreign ministry welcomed Washington's lifting of sanctions, calling the move "a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country". Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said the recent US and European Union steps to lift sanctions were "of critical importance in efforts to bring stability and security to Syria". The European Union announced the lifting of its economic sanctions on Syria earlier this month. Sharaa met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday on his third visit to Turkey since taking power on a visit to discuss "common issues", Syria's presidency said. Ankara is a major backer of Syria's new authorities, who are negotiating with Kurdish forces that control swathes of the northeast and that Turkey considers "terrorists". A government delegation made a first visit Saturday to the notorious Al-Hol camp in the northeast that hosts families of suspected Islamic State (IS) group jihadists. Trump said he wanted to give Syria's new rulers "a chance at greatness" after their overthrow of Assad. While in Istanbul, Sharaa met with the US ambassador to Turkey, who doubles as Washington's Syria envoy. In a statement, Tom Barrack said: "President Trump's goal is to enable the new government to create the conditions for the Syrian people to not only survive but thrive." He added that it would aid Washington's "primary objective" of ensuring the "enduring defeat" of IS. US sanctions were first imposed on Syria in 1979 under the rule of Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez. They were sharply expanded after the bloody repression of anti-government protests in 2011 triggered Syria's civil war. The new administration has been looking to build relations with the West and roll back sanctions, but some governments expressed reluctance, pointing to the Islamist past of leading figures. - 'Recovery and reconstruction' - The sanctions relief extends to the new government on condition that Syria does not provide safe haven for terrorist organisations and ensure security for religious and ethnic minorities, the US Treasury Department said. Concurrently, the US State Department issued a 180-day waiver for the Caesar Act to make sure that sanctions do not obstruct foreign investment in Syria. The 2020 legislation severely sanctioned any entity or company cooperating with the now ousted government. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the waiver would "facilitate the provision of electricity, energy, water and sanitation, and enable a more effective humanitarian response across Syria". However, Rubio cautioned that Trump "has made clear his expectation that relief will be followed by prompt action by the Syrian government on important policy priorities". He said lifting the sanctions aims to promote "recovery and reconstruction efforts". Syria's 14-year civil war killed more than half a million people and ravaged its infrastructure. The interior ministry's spokesman said around a third of the population had been under suspicion by the Assad government's feared intelligence and security services. Analysts say a full lifting of sanctions may take time, as some US restrictions are acts that need to be reversed by Congress. Syrian authorities also need to ensure an attractive environment for foreign investment. bur-nad/lg/dcp/ysm
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Syria hails US lifting of Assad-era sanctions
Syrian authorities on Saturday announced an interior ministry restructuring that includes fighting cross-border drug and people smuggling as they seek to improve ties with Western nations that have lifted sanctions. Keen to reboot and rebuild after 14 years of devastating civil war, the new authorities in Damascus have hailed Washington's lifting of US sanctions. The move was formalised Friday after being announced by President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he shook hands with Syria's jihadist-turned-interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said the interior ministry restructure included reforms and creating "a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human rights standards". It includes setting up a citizens' complaints department and incorporating the police and General Security agency into an Internal Security command, he told a press conference. A border security body for Syria's land and sea frontiers will be tasked with "combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks", Baba said. The restructure includes "strengthening the role of the anti-drug department and further developing its importance within Syria and abroad" after the country became a major exporter of illicit stimulant captagon, he added. Another department will handle security for government facilities and foreign missions, as embassies reopen in Syria following Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December. A tourism police body will secure visitors and sites as the war-torn country -- home to renowned UNESCO World Heritage sites -- seeks to relaunch tourism. - 'Of critical importance' - Syria's foreign ministry welcomed Washington's lifting of sanctions, calling the move "a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country". Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said the recent US and European Union steps to lift sanctions were "of critical importance in efforts to bring stability and security to Syria". The European Union announced the lifting of its economic sanctions on Syria earlier this month. Sharaa met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday on his third visit to Turkey since taking power on a visit to discuss "common issues", Syria's presidency said. Ankara is a major backer of Syria's new authorities, who are negotiating with Kurdish forces that control swathes of the northeast and that Turkey considers "terrorists". A government delegation made a first visit Saturday to the notorious Al-Hol camp in the northeast that hosts families of suspected Islamic State group jihadists. Trump said he wanted to give Syria's new rulers "a chance at greatness" after their overthrow of Assad. US sanctions were first imposed on Syria in 1979 under the rule of Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez. They were sharply expanded after the bloody repression of anti-government protests in 2011 triggered Syria's civil war. The new administration has been looking to build relations with the West and roll back sanctions, but some governments expressed reluctance, pointing to the Islamist past of leading figures. - 'Recovery and reconstruction' - The sanctions relief extends to the new government on condition that Syria not provide safe haven for terrorist organisations and ensure security for religious and ethnic minorities, the US Treasury Department said. Concurrently, the US State Department issued a 180-day waiver for the Caesar Act to make sure that sanctions do not obstruct foreign investment in Syria. The 2020 legislation severely sanctioned any entity or company cooperating with the now ousted government. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the waiver would "facilitate the provision of electricity, energy, water and sanitation, and enable a more effective humanitarian response across Syria". However, Rubio cautioned that Trump "has made clear his expectation that relief will be followed by prompt action by the Syrian government on important policy priorities". He said lifting the sanctions aims to promote "recovery and reconstruction efforts". Syria's 14-year civil war killed more than half a million people and ravaged its infrastructure. The interior ministry's Baba said around a third of the population had been under suspicion by the Assad regime's feared intelligence and security services. Analysts say a full lifting of sanctions may take time, as some US restrictions are acts that need to be reversed by Congress. Syrian authorities also need to ensure an attractive environment for foreign investment.
