Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa described the decision to lift US sanctions, announced by US President Donald Trump during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, as a "courageous and historic decision" that paves the way for alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people.

Al-Sharaa's speech in Damascus came after his return from Saudi Arabia and his meeting with President Trump earlier Wednesday morning on the sidelines of the Gulf-US summit held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The meeting was the first of its kind between an American and Syrian president in 25 years.

In his speech, Al-Sharaa praised the positive engagement of Syrian communities abroad and their constructive contributions to the call for the lifting of sanctions, emphasizing that these efforts had a significant impact on achieving this accomplishment. He stated that Syria is not only celebrating the lifting of sanctions, but also "the return of fervent sentiment among the peoples of the region."

In a speech at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trump said he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria "to give them a chance to grow and develop," describing the sanctions as "cruel and crippling, and it's time for Syria to rise up." He said he made this decision after discussing it with both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During the Gulf-US summit, Trump said that "the United States is considering normalizing relations with Syria after meeting with Sharaa," stressing that his decision to lift sanctions on Syria was to give the country a new opportunity.

A page has been turned

In his speech last night, Al-Sharaa affirmed that Syria has turned a tragic page in its modern history under the former regime, that the spirit of belonging has returned to the Syrian people, and that a window of hope has been opened, even though the country remains shackled by the pain of the past.
The Syrian president said that Syria had been liberated, and joy had spread among its people and its sister nations. He emphasized that the unity and sacrifices of the people had had a significant impact in changing international public opinion toward Syria.
He explained that Syria is committed to facilitating investment conditions and opening its doors to investors, adding that Syria has succeeded in opening doors that were closed and paving the way for strategic relations with Arab and Western countries. He noted that "the entire world loves Syria because of its great standing."
Sharaa also affirmed that Syria "will no longer be an arena for power-sharing," that he will not allow the country to be divided, nor will he allow the revival of the narratives of the former regime. He emphasized that Syria belongs to "all Syrians," and that priorities have been set to address the bitter reality the country was experiencing.
The Syrian President concluded by stressing that hardships have taught Syrians that their strength lies in their unity.
Source: Al Jazeera