Donald Trump says he will lift all American sanctions on Syria.
The American president said he was convinced of the idea after discussions with the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Syria is subject to intense economic sanctions, imposed during the former dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad, and there were growing calls to eliminate the limitations to help the country recover from decades of brutal dictatorship and civil war.
“It’s their time to shine, we’ll take them all off,” said Mr. Trump.
“Good luck Syria, shows us something very special.“
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani welcomed the Sana Sanana news agency, welcomed the announcement of the US president and described it as a “crucial turning point for the Syrian people, while we are on the way to a future of stability, self -supply and real reconstruction after years of destructive war.”
The White House previously confirmed that Mr. Trump would say “Hello” to the new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, local time.
It is expected that it is the first meeting between the US president and the former militant who led the efforts to overthrow the Assad regime.
He will become the first Syrian leader to meet an American president since the late Hafez Assad Bill Clinton in Geneva met in 2000.
The interim president of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaaa, was a key figure in the push to overthrow the Assad regime. ((Stephanie Lecocq/Pool via AP))
Who is Ahmed Al-Sharaa?
Al-Sharaa was appointed president of Syria in January, a month after a stunning offensive by rebellious groups led by Al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) who stormed Damascus who ended the 54-year rule of the Assad family.
The US has considered how they can deal with Al-Sharaa as president, with Gulf leaders gather behind the new government in Damascus.
Regional leaders have argued that American support will act as a block against Iran that returns to influence Syria, where it helped to support the Assad regime.
Mr Trump’s movement marks a tone change of the US president and puts him at odds with Ally Israel, who has been deeply skeptical about the extremist past of Al-Sharaa.
Previously known under the Nom de Guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, Al-Sharaa joined the ranks of Al-Qaeda revelations that fought against American troops in Iraq after the invasion led by the US in 2003 and is still confronted with an order for his arrest on terrorist complaints.
The US once offered $ US10 million ($ 15.4 million) for information about its place of residence because of its tires to Al-Qaeda.
He was the leader of the official wing of Al-Qaeda in the Syrian conflict before he broke ties with the Global Jihadist network in 2016.
HTS used to be dissolved in January, but is mentioned by the US and the United Nations as a terror organization.
ABC/wires
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