UN Envoy calls for lifting sanctions for rebuilding Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Saturday that Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has inherited a nation “utterly devastated” in terms of security and societal stability, making the task of rebuilding extraordinarily difficult.
Speaking on the current state of post-conflict Syria, Pedersen reiterated his call for the lifting of international sanctions, emphasizing their impact on efforts to revive the Syrian economy and restore basic infrastructure.
He added that the country is shattered — socially, economically, and institutionally, indicating that reconstruction under such conditions will require not only internal reforms but also external cooperation and the removal of punitive measures that obstruct recovery.
Pedersen also criticized Israel’s repeated military operations in Syrian airspace, warning that “Israel is playing with fire” by conducting airstrikes and violating Syria’s territorial integrity.
His remarks follow similar calls he made in February, when he urged the international community to reassess the sanctions on Syria in light of worsening humanitarian conditions and a stagnating recovery process.