There is renewed hope for Syria’s future after years of conflict. On Wednesday, United Nations special envoy Geir Pedersen expressed optimism during his visit to Damascus, saying he sees the potential for a “new Syria” to emerge.
“It’s only been 11 days since recent developments, so it’s early days,” Pedersen told reporters. “But there is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria—one that, in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, adopts a new constitution ensuring a social contract for all Syrians and eventually holds free and fair elections after a transitional period.”
Pedersen met with leaders from various groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), other armed factions, civil society figures, and women activists. He stressed the importance of inclusive political transition and welcomed the renewal of a truce in Kurdish-controlled areas in the northeast, urging a political solution to secure lasting peace.
The envoy highlighted Syria’s severe economic challenges, calling for immediate humanitarian assistance, steps toward reconstruction, and the potential easing of sanctions. “We need to see economic recovery and hopefully start a process to end sanctions,” he said.
HTS leader Ahmad al-Shara, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, echoed the call to lift international sanctions on Syria. In an interview, he stated that “HTS should be de-listed as a terrorist organization,” asserting that the group “did not target civilians or civilian areas.” Al-Shara also emphasized his support for women’s education and noted that he does not want to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan.
Syria’s interim minister of economy, Basil Abdulaziz Abdul Hanan, announced plans to embrace a free and competitive market economy. “We have intensified meetings with industrialists, merchants, and specialists to gain a clear understanding of the situation and set priorities for improving the economic landscape,” he said. Abdul Hanan called on the private sector to be “proactive partners in rebuilding Syria’s economy.”
Meanwhile, visiting UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called for a massive boost in aid to respond to “this moment of hope.” He highlighted that “seven in ten people are needing support right now,” with half of Syria’s population displaced during nearly 14 years of civil war. “The Syrian people demand that we deliver, and they’re right to demand that we deliver,” Fletcher said. “The world hasn’t delivered for the Syrian people for more than a decade.”
UN officials have noted that a $4 billion appeal for Syria aid is less than a third funded. Fletcher urged donors to be ambitious, stating, “We’ve got to be ambitious in our ask of donors.”
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Inclusive political transition and easing of sanctions urged in Syria
cgtn.com
