European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen will visit Syria later this week, marking the first trip to Damascus since the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad, according to Al Arabiya.
The visit will be part of a Middle East tour that will also witness visits to Jordan and Lebanon, spokeswoman Paula Pinho said.
Von der Leyen’s visit to the war‑scarred nation underscores a pivotal moment, as the international community seeks to strengthen delicate reconstruction efforts just one year after Al‑Assad’s fall.
Syrian President Ahmed Al‑Sharaa has been racing to secure foreign allies and boost domestic security.
However, Syria is still in peril, gripped by sectarian violence and the enduring threat of ISIS.
The European Union has emerged as a major financial backer of Damascus, lifting civil‑war sanctions to boost reconstruction.
On Saturday, Syria began circulating newly issued currency bills in an attempt to stabilizing its economy.
President Ahmed Al‑Sharaa decreed that Syria’s old currency will be gradually withdrawn from circulation under the Syrian Central Bank’s timetable.
The new Syrian currency will be introduced by removing two zeros from the old notes, meaning every 100 pounds of the former currency now equals a single pound.
It also means that the highest denomination of the old Syrian currency that was 5,000 pounds would be 500 under the new system.
The announcement has raised some concerns among bankers, warning that the new currency could increase inflation and further rise the fragile purchasing power of Syrians who are struggling with soaring prices. However, Syria’s Central Bank Governor assured that the transition would unfold as a smooth, orderly swap.
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