DAMASCUS, Syria — The establishment of a representative government in Syria over the next few weeks will significantly influence whether Western sanctions are lifted as the nation begins to recover following the departure of former President Bashar Assad. This assertion was made by the U.N. special envoy to Syria during a recent visit to the capital.
Geir Pedersen expressed his hopes that, with a genuinely inclusive government operational by March 1, it could create favorable conditions to reconsider the sanctions imposed by Western nations during Assad’s administration. The envoy articulated these thoughts during an interview in Damascus.
Following a rapid rebel takeover in December, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main group previously opposed to Assad, established a provisional administration mainly sourced from its existing “salvation government” in northwest Syria. The interim authorities declared their intention to form a new government through an inclusive process by the designated timeline in March. In a significant development, former HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa was appointed as Syria’s interim president following a gathering of various rebel factions in January.
In the weeks leading up to this moment, a committee has convened in multiple regions of Syria to prepare for a planned national dialogue conference aimed at outlining the political future of the country, although no specific date has been set for this event. During his initial discussion with al-Sharaa in December, Pedersen was informed that the new interim government would operate for a maximum of three months, a timeline Pedersen deemed challenging.
He emphasized that the fundamental issue is not the duration of three months, but rather the commitment to genuinely include all Syrians in the political process as promised.
The U.S. and European nations have refrained from lifting sanctions against the Syrian government, which were implemented during Assad’s time in power. The governing bodies formed post-Assad have claimed these restrictions hinder their efforts to rebuild a nation that has endured nearly 14 years of civil strife and restore vital services such as electricity. Some officials in Western countries have expressed their intent to monitor whether the interim leadership adheres to their commitments to inclusive governance and minority rights.
Those organizing the national dialogue have stated that the upcoming conference will accommodate diverse segments of Syrian society, excluding Assad supporters and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group in the northeast that has yet to integrate into a consolidated national army. Negotiations are ongoing between the SDF and the central government, with Pedersen expressing hope for a “political solution” to the existing stalemate.
Additionally, Pedersen voiced worries about a potential security gap ensuing from the disbanding of the previous national army and security apparatus under the new regime.
Pursuing stabilization, he noted the urgency for new state frameworks to be established swiftly while ensuring alternative job opportunities for individuals displaced from military or security positions, so they do not feel marginalized in Syria’s future.
Moreover, Pedersen raised concerns over Israeli military incursions into Syrian territory since Assad’s fall, particularly in the Golan Heights, where Israel has taken control of a U.N.-monitored buffer zone established by a ceasefire agreement from 1974. The U.N. has characterized Israel’s actions as violations of this agreement.
Israeli officials, however, have defended their operations as necessary for national security, asserting that their military presence would be fleeting. Pedersen commented that the issues at hand are being acknowledged and insisted there is little justification for Israel’s continued presence in the region, concluding that the straightforward resolution is for Israeli forces to withdraw.
