UN: Int’l support essential for Syria’s economic recovery

International support is crucial for Syria’s economic recovery, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said yesterday, calling for the easing of sanctions imposed on the country, Anadolu reported.

Pedersen’s statements came during a briefing to members of the UN Security Council in a session on Syria’s humanitarian and political situation, chaired by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

The UN envoy stressed that the consequences of the 14-year-long conflict have been immense, adding that the challenges facing the Syrian people remain substantial.

“Syrians need an economic future, and they need serious international support to enable it,” he said, emphasising that this requires swift and extensive sanctions relief.

The UN official highlighted the importance of easing sanctions targeting the energy, investment, finance, health and education sectors, acknowledging some steps taken in this direction but stressing that more is needed.

Pedersen urged countries that have imposed sanctions on Syria to reconsider the impact of these restrictions. “It is essential that sanctioning states consider the important restrictions that still persist and that hamper response,” he stressed.

Israeli violations

Pedersen stated that Israel continues its attacks on various areas of Syria.

He also mentioned that Israel has announced the construction of certain positions in the buffer zone, affirming that this constitutes a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement.

“I am concerned by Israeli statements on the intention to stay in Syria ‘for the foreseeable future’ as well as demands for the ‘full demilitarisation of southern Syria,’” he cautioned.

He urged the UN Security Council “to hold Israel to its commitment that this is a temporary presence and stress that Israel must withdraw and respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and independence.”

Since 1967, Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights. It has taken advantage of the new situation in Syria following the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime by occupying the Syrian buffer zone and declaring the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two sides void.

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