Ankara: Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg called on Monday for the lifting of certain economic sanctions against Syria, stressing the importance of providing economic opportunities for Syrians while holding those responsible for ongoing human rights violations accountable. Speaking at the doorstep of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Schallenberg explained that his plea was based on recent discussions with his Syrian counterpart at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

According to Anadolu Agency, Schallenberg emphasized giving the new leaders in Syria a chance, while maintaining that this opportunity is not without conditions. He underscored the importance of addressing recent reports of violence in Syria, mentioning that over 30 people were killed. Schallenberg stressed the necessity of investigating such incidents thoroughly.

Schallenberg, along with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani, suggested suspending sanctions in the economic sector while keeping other measures, such as the arms embargo, in place. He highlighted the critical role of economic livelihood and opportunities for the Syrian people. However, Schallenberg clarified that the suspension of sanctions would be conditional, with a mechanism in place to reinstate them if developments take a negative turn.