Canada on Friday lifted sanctions on Syria by removing the state from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and removing the designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a “terrorist entity,” according to AFP.
Canada took this step following similar steps from the United States and the United Kingdom that lifted sanctions on Syria’s new President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and other senior officials and institutions.
“These decisions were not taken lightly,” Canada’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
This historic move comes also as a response to Al-Sharaa government’s efforts to rebuild relations with international community and advance Syria’s stability.
The steps were “in line with recent decisions taken by our allies, including the United Kingdom and the United States,” the ministry added.
In 2012, Ottawa listed Syria as a “state supporter of terrorism” after Bashar Al-Assad started to suppress pro-democracy protests and then plunged the country into civil war.
In April, the British government lifted sanctions on Syria’s interior and defense ministries. Syria’s General Intelligence Directorate, Air Force Intelligence Agency and National Security Bureau were also emitted from the list of entities subject to financial sanctions by the U.K.
The UN Security Council also removed Al-Sharaa from a terrorism sanctions list.
This diplomatic initiative received support by the United States which urged for lifting all sanctions to allow the new Syrian President to travel more freely, without needing to wait for waivers for some trips.
In recent months, Damascus have warmed relation with several countries around the world with the US lifting sanctions and European powers advancing closer ties.
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