kabarsula Syria, EU discuss new agreement, recovery and Israeli withdrawal bandar SLOT INDONESIA

Damascus, Sept. 29 (SANA) Syria and the European Union discussed plans for a new agreement and support for Syria’s recovery on Tuesday, as Damascus called on the bloc to demand the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces to the lines of Dec. 8, 2024.

Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, outlined their positions at a joint press conference at Tishreen Palace in Damascus.

New agreement and economic support

Al-Shaibani said the two sides aimed to prepare a joint scoping paper by the end of the first quarter of 2027 as a step toward an agreement to replace their 1977 accord. Syria also sought inclusion in the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, he said.

Kallas said the EU had begun providing €60.2 million to support Syria’s recovery and strengthen its institutions. The European Investment Bank was considering support for infrastructure that forms the backbone of the Syrian economy, she said.

She said the EU had reactivated its cooperation agreement with Syria and wanted to mobilize more investment, support the banking system and contribute to reconstruction. Further discussions on the two sides’ high-level political dialogue were expected before next summer, she added.

Kallas also said discussions were under way on how to fund organizations seeking to carry out projects in Syria.

Sanctions and political transition

Al-Shaibani said the EU had taken steps toward putting its stated commitment to Syria into practice. He cited its removal of Syrian government entities, including the defense and interior ministries, from sanctions lists on May 18.

He also noted the European Commission’s participation in a September workshop on the national framework for return and awareness, alongside the launch of a technical support platform for Syrian institutions.

Kallas said the EU had moved quickly after the fall of the regime to lift economic sanctions in support of recovery and reconstruction. Al-Shaibani called for remaining sanctions on Syrian state institutions to be lifted while staying in place against figures of the ousted regime.

Kallas said the success of Syria’s political transition was important to the EU and described recent European steps as signals toward normalizing relations.

Al-Shaibani cited the convening of the People’s Assembly in July and what he described as the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions on the basis of equal citizenship. He said Syria had regained its full rights at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and closed a file at the International Atomic Energy Agency associated with the ousted regime.

He also cited cooperation against cross-border crime, irregular migration, drug trafficking and human trafficking, and said Syria’s stability was integral to Europe’s security.

Israeli attacks and regional security

Al-Shaibani called on the EU to explicitly describe Israeli attacks as such and demand the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces to the lines of Dec. 8, 2024.

He reaffirmed Syria’s position that the occupied Syrian Golan is Syrian territory and cited UN Security Council Resolution 497, which declares Israel’s decision to annex it null and void. He welcomed the EU’s rejection of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan and its call in August for the 1974 Disengagement Agreement to be respected.

Kallas said the 1974 agreement must be respected.

Al-Shaibani said Syria would not allow its territory to be used as a base for attacks or to settle regional disputes. He expressed solidarity with Gulf countries and Jordan over Iranian attacks and called for diplomatic solutions.

Kallas said Syria’s decision to stay out of the conflict between Iran and the United States had helped prevent it from spreading further.

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