Washington: Proposal to suspend the Caesar Act sanctions on the Syrian government under strict conditions
Two US senators, one Republican and one Democrat, have proposed an amendment to the Caesar Act that would allow the suspension of sanctions on Syria, subject to specific conditions imposed by the Syrian government.
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have proposed the draft law, although the amendment hasn’t yet been put to a vote, its chances of passage appear strong given the broad support of the Trump administration and the Republican bloc.
The amendment requires Damascus to adhere to a set of commitments before sanctions are suspended, most notably:
- Officially join the international coalition against ISIS.
- Fighting ISIS and other terrorist groups.
- Protecting religious and ethnic minorities and ensuring their political participation.
- Maintaining peaceful relations with countries in the region, including Israel.
- Stop funding and supporting organizations and individuals designated as terrorists.
- Release of political prisoners.
- Cooperation with international investigation committees on violations and crimes since 2011.
The draft law stipulates that the US President will submit a report to Congress every 120 days to assess the Syrian government’s compliance with these conditions.
If Damascus complies, the sanctions will be automatically suspended and remain in effect.
For the first time, the law proposes the possibility of lifting sanctions on Syria on a conditional and periodic basis, which could pave the way for economic recovery and attract foreign investment if the Syrian government complies with the terms.
