The United Kingdom announces to restore diplomatic relations with Syria

On Saturday, July 5, the United Kingdom announced the repair of its diplomatic relations with Syria on Saturday, broken more than a decade, on the occasion of the first visit to Damascus of his diplomacy, David Lammy, since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, in December. A diplomatic advance for the new Islamic authorities, who are trying to rebuild the country, destroyed by more than thirteen years of conflicts, and to restart her Moribund economy.

The war was activated in 2011 by the repression of demonstrations in favor of democracy, and many European countries, such as the United Kingdom, then took a position against President Bashar Al-Assad. London had joined the international sanctions taken against Damascus and then closed his embassy.

“The United Kingdom restores its diplomatic relations because it is in its interest to help the new government to fulfill its dedication to build a stable, safer and more prosperous future for all Syrians”said Lammy, quoted in a statement of his services, during this first British ministerial trip to Syria in fourteen years.

The Syrian presidency had previously reported a meeting in Damascus between Mr Lammy and the acting Syrian president, Ahmed al-Charaa. The British minister also met his Syrian counterpart, Assad Hassan Al-Chibani. Discussions aimed at “Bilateral relationships (…) and the means to strengthen cooperation, as well as on regional and international developments ”According to the presidency.

Mr. Lammy stated that a stable Syria would be favorable for his country by allowing “Reduce the risk of irregular migration to guarantee the destruction of chemical weapons” of the previous force, as well as “Fighting against the terrorist threat”.

Gradual lifting of sanctions

These concerns are shared by other Western countries, who have restored their relationships with the new Syrian power, despite concerns in particular with the fate of minorities. The new authorities are counting on their support to launch the reconstruction phase, the costs of which are estimated by the United Nations at more than $ 400 billion.

According to the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs, London is committed to paying an extra $ 129 million to one “Humanitarian aid for emergencies” support Syrians and the reconstruction. In March, the United Kingdom had promised to mobilize 190 million euros in favor of Syria.

Syria has experienced intense diplomatic activity since the Islamic armed forces ended, on December 8, half a century of irreparable power of the Assad clan on Syria. In May, the United States and the European Union announced the lifting of economic sanctions against Syria. In the same month, according to his ministry, the Minister of Syrian defense, Mourhaf Abu Qasra, had met an official British delegation.

In April, the British government announced the cancellation of the sanctions imposed on the Syrian Binnen- en Defense ministeries under Assad. London had also increased sanctions against various media groups and intelligence services, as well as against certain sectors of the economy, financial services and energy production, among other things.