Shara at the UN: The US should lift the Caesar Act sanctions against Syria

Syrian President Ahmad Shara reiterated his demand for the lifting of US sanctions against Syria under the Caesar Act during Monday's UN General Assembly in New York. This is the first time a Syrian head of state has participated since 1967 – albeit without electoral legitimacy.

Shara stated that the sanctions imposed on the former regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad were no longer justified and were increasingly perceived by Syrians themselves as measures directed against them. At the same time, he announced that security talks with international partners had reached an “advanced stage” and that their goal was to preserve Syria's sovereignty and also to allay Israel's concerns.

The commander of the Sunni militias acknowledged delays in implementing the agreement with the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, adding that the mood in Syria and around the world was influencing Damascus' stance on the Abraham Accords.

(reuters, sab)