Ankara: Turkey stressed the need to completely lift Western sanctions imposed on Syria, during a consultative meeting with the British side, in Ankara. Officials from the Turkish and British foreign ministries discussed the issue of lifting sanctions imposed on Syria during the era of the former regime.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, diplomatic sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry explained that the consultations on Syria were held under the chairmanship of Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and British Minister of State for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer. The sources added that the issue of completely lifting sanctions without preconditions, especially ensuring the flow of financial resources to Syria, was raised on the agenda of the consultative meeting.

During the meeting, the issues of reconstruction and economic development in Syria were also discussed. The sources indicated that Yilmaz informed the British side about Turkey’s assessments of the security, humanitarian, and economic situation in Syria. It was agreed to continue consultations between Turkey and Britain on regional issues, especially the situation in Syria.

Despite the suspension of some of them and the easing of others, Western sanctions imposed on Syria since the era of Bashar al-Assad’s regime remain an obstacle to the country’s progress.