Risch, Shaheen Statement on UN Vote to Lift Syria Sanctions

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the statement below ahead of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa and Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab.

"Effective diplomacy requires bold action, and removing sanctions on Syria's leadership is a necessary step to bring the Syrian economy into the 21^st century. The United States remains committed to a safe, free, and stable Syria shaped by Syrians, and has committed to removing sanctions from the government. As chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we take this very seriously and are actively working with the administration and our colleagues in Congress to repeal Caesar sanctions. Now it is also time for the United Nations to follow suit and remove their outdated and prohibitive sanctions regimes.

"Should members of the Security Council like China or Russia exercise their veto to block the lifting of sanctions on Syria's leaders, it will be clear they are no friend to the Syrian people who have suffered enough. We cannot forget that Russia continues to provide safe haven to Bashar al-Assad, the cruel dictator who should face justice and accountability for the atrocities of his regime. It's time to prioritize reconstruction, stability, and a path forward rather than isolation that only deepens hardship for Syrians. We urge the members of the Security Council to lift sanctions on Syria for the benefit of the Syrian people."

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