Lifting US sanctions on NE Syria won’t pay off if crossings not opened—Politicians
MANBIJ, Syria (North Press) – Politicians and human rights activists in the city of Manbij, north Syria, said on Saturday that the US decision regarding lifting Caesar Act sanctions on northeast Syria wouldn’t work if the main crossings in the region remain closed.
On May 12, The United States authorized some foreign investments in areas of northern Syria that are outside the government control.
“The recent US decision to exempt northeast Syria from Caesar’s sanctions is welcome. It would change the economic situation, but not in the required way,” Muhammad Burkul, a politician from Manbij, said.
He explained that the exemption decision wouldn’t pay off with the continued Turkish threats to the region. “This will negatively affect the actual implementation of the law,” he added.
“It’s true that the decision is right, but it needs many factors. First, it needs a safe region. Second, it needs the border crossings to be reopened for bringing in the raw materials. Thus, there should be chance for the products of these companies to be imported and exported,” he said.
“This exemption will anger both the Syrian regime and Turkey. Thus, there will be lots of threats and risks. There will be also lots of attempts to destabilize this region by any means,” according to Burkul.
“The Global Coalition should take serious steps to push Turkey and the Syrian regime by establishing a safe region and good economic environment,” the politician said.
Asia al-Hussein, head of the Organizational Office of the Future Syria Party, the Manbij branch, said that the consequences of Caesar Act have had negative effects on the Syrian economy as a whole and on the economy of northeast Syria in particular.
“Although northeast Syria has been exempted from these sanctions, it will remain besieged by the Syrian regime and Turkey along with the affiliated opposition Forces (SNA),” she explained.
Al-Hussein called for the reopening of the crossings linking the Autonomous Administration areas with the areas of the Syrian opposition and the Syrian government under UN supervision.