Kallas: "EU countries intend to lift sanctions against Syria"

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday that she hoped ministers gathering in Brussels would reach an agreement on lifting economic sanctions on Syria.
Ministers are considering a political decision to lift economic sanctions while maintaining sanctions related to the Assad regime and introducing measures against human rights violators, officials said.
"It is clear that we want there to be jobs and livelihoods for the people (in Syria), so that it would be a more stable country," Kallas said.

US President Donald Trump promised on May 13 at a business forum in Saudi Arabia to lift sanctions on Syria and give it another chance. The US sanctions were “tough and crippling,” but they played an important role, Trump said.

The Times reported yesterday that the Syrian authorities are ready to make a number of concessions in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions imposed during the presidency of Bashar al-Assad. According to the media outlet, Damascus may offer Trump an agreement on access for American companies to develop natural resources in Syria, as in the case of Ukraine.