Germany’s Syria envoy warns on sanctions hopes after visit to Damascus

Discussions to possibly lift EU sanctions against Syria are under way but are unlikely to resolve soon, Germany’s special envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, has told The National. The request to lift sanctions was made publicly this week by Syria’s de facto new leader, Ahmad Al Shara, formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed Al Jawlani. He argued that the sanctions against the Syrian state were directed at the Assad regime, which is now gone, so they should also go. “The lifting of sanctions is a topic we are looking into already with our EU partners. It will take some time,” Mr Schneck said.