BRUSSELS (AP) 鈥 European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed to begin lifting sanctions on Syria, while insisting that the measures should be reimposed if they see any abuses by the country鈥檚 new rulers.
The EU started to impose asset freezes and travel bans on Syrian officials and organizations in 2011 in response to Bashar Assad鈥檚 crackdown on protesters, which festered into a civil war.
The 27-nation bloc targeted 316 people and 86 entities accused of backing Syria鈥檚 former ruler. It is keen to lift those measures if Syria鈥檚 new leaders set the country on the path to a peaceful political future involving all minority groups and in which extremism and former allies and have no place.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ministers had agreed on a 鈥渞oadmap鈥 for easing sanctions. Speaking after chairing the meeting, she said, the aim was to lift those measures 鈥渢hat are most hindering the early buildup of the country and to move from there.鈥
She underlined that the ministers had only reached 鈥渁 political agreement鈥 - not one to start easing the measures immediately - and that 鈥渢here are also technical issues to be solved鈥 in the weeks ahead before any sanctions can be lifted.
Kallas said that an easing of sanctions 鈥渃ould give a boost to the Syrian economy and help the country get back on its feet.鈥 But she added: 鈥淲hile we aim to move fast, we also are ready to reverse the course if the situation worsens.鈥
The ministers favor on a 鈥渟nap back鈥 mechanism to reimpose sanctions if they believe that Syria's new leaders are heading in the wrong direction.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the aim would be to lift restrictions on things like Syria鈥檚 infrastructure and energy sector 鈥渟o that the country can develop itself again.鈥 He said that 鈥渃ertain sanctions will stay in place, such as (on) weapons exports.鈥
Since on Dec. 8 and Assad fled to Moscow, Syria鈥檚 transition has appeared promising, but the new leadership has yet to lay out a clear vision of how the country will be governed.
The Islamic militant group , or HTS 鈥 a former al-Qaida affiliate that the EU and U.N. consider to be a terrorist organization 鈥 has established itself as Syria鈥檚 de facto rulers after coordinating with the southern fighters during the offensive late last year.
Veldkamp said that the restrictions on HTS itself would not be eased initially. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e the new ones in power. We want to see how their words are translated into actions,鈥 he told reporters.
