U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate, affirmed that the Senate’s decision to repeal the “Caesar Act” sanctions represents a historic development in U.S.-Syria relations.
She described it as a significant step that offers Syria a genuine opportunity to achieve economic and political stability and transform into a regional hub of prosperity. Shaheen urged the House of Representatives to pass the legislation.
“The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the Senate includes my initiative to repeal the outdated Caesar sanctions on Syria. This is a historic milestone that will help Syrians recover from decades of conflict and move toward stability. It also includes my initiatives to counter the spread of Captagon, reopen the U.S. embassy in Damascus, and ensure adequate U.S. military presence in Syria for counterterrorism efforts,” Shaheen said in a statement published ,Friday, by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on its official website.
Shaheen added: “The Senate’s passage of this repeal followed intensive diplomatic efforts and bipartisan coordination to lift sanctions designed to hobble the Assad regime. It also builds on meetings with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Damascus and New York. This marks a historic milestone in U.S.-Syria relations and clears a pathway for Syrians to recover from decades of brutal dictatorship and conflict, while enhancing prospects for reducing Iranian and Russian influence and building a more peaceful and prosperous future.”
She pointed out that the Senate-passed NDAA includes provision to counter the production and distribution of Captagon and supports Syria’s efforts to halt drug and arms smuggling across its borders to neighboring countries such as Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon. The drug trade helped fuel Assad-era violence and criminality in Syria and bred instability across the region,”
The U.S. Senator stated that “the Bill includes provisions to encourage steps toward reopening the U.S. embassy in Damascus and ensuring adequate U.S. troop presence in Syria to counter terrorism. The embassy has been closed since 2012, and reopening it safely would deepen diplomatic relations, encourage private investment, and restore services for American citizens. Additionally, increased legislative oversight of U.S. troop levels will help prevent ISIS from exploiting Syria’s transitional phase.”
MHD Ibrahim
