US allows transactions with Syrian government entities despite sanctions Reuters

By Timor Azhari and Daphne Psaledakis

DAMASCUS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Monday granted sanctions relief to Syrian government entities for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime to ease the flow of humanitarian aid.

The exemption, known as the General Permit, allows some energy transactions and private funds into Syria until July 7. The action did not result in any sanctions.

Syria suffers from severe electricity shortages, with government-supplied electricity available for only two or three hours a day in most areas. The trustee said the government aims to provide up to eight hours of electricity per day within two months.

The US Treasury said the move seeks to “help prevent sanctions from disrupting the continuity of essential services and governance functions in Syria, including the provision of electricity, energy, water and sanitation.”

A lightning rebel attack on December 8 brought an abrupt end to decades of rule by the Assad family. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist rebel group that led the advance and formed Syria’s interim government, cut ties with al-Qaeda. But America continues to be labeled a terrorist.

In the year After Assad turned pro-democracy protests into civil war in 2011, the United States, Britain, the European Union and other governments imposed heavy sanctions on Syria.

Washington has previously provided humanitarian aid to the Syrian people through aid groups, the United Nations and the US government, as well as some economic activities in areas outside the control of the Assad regime.

Monday’s measure “authorizes transactions with governing institutions in Syria…even if a designated individual has a leadership role in that governing institution,” but does not allow transactions involving the military or intelligence agencies.

The Treasury defines Syrian administrative institutions as departments, agencies, and government-run public service providers—hospitals, schools, and facilities—at the federal, state, or local level and throughout Syria that are involved with HTS.

It also authorizes transactions to or within Syria for the sale, supply, storage or donation of energy, including petroleum and electricity.

US sanctions on Assad and his allies, the Syrian government, the Syrian Central Bank and HTS remain in place, the US Treasury announced.

‘Support Humanitarian Aid’

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the move would show goodwill to the Syrian people rather than the new Islamic State.

“The end of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal and oppressive regime, backed by Russia and Iran, presents a unique opportunity for Syria and its people to rebuild,” Deputy Finance Minister Wali Adeyemo said in a statement.

“During this transition period, Treasury will continue to support humanitarian assistance and responsible governance in Syria.”

The Minister of Commerce of the Syrian Interim Government, Maher Khalil Al-Hassan, said yesterday that the country could not make agreements to import oil, wheat or other key goods because of the strict US sanctions, which many countries, including the Gulf Arab countries, want to do. in order to.

He said Syria would face “danger” if the sanctions were not stopped or lifted soon.

Washington wants to see HTS priorities such as counter-terrorism and the formation of an inclusive government for all Syrians.

Along with unilateral measures, HTS has been on the UN Security Council’s al Qaeda and Islamic State sanctions list for more than a decade, subject to international asset embargoes and arms embargoes, albeit humanitarian exemptions.

Many diplomats see the lifting of sanctions as an incentive for Syria’s new authorities to keep their promises.

Diplomats and UN officials also want to avoid a repeat of the crisis in Afghanistan when the hardline Islamist Taliban withdraw in August 2021 after US-led forces leave after two decades of war.

Wary of UN and US sanctions, UN and aid groups struggle to deliver enough money to run operations and force the US to waive sanctions.