The new head of Syrian diplomacy, Assaad Al-Chibani, pleaded on Saturday in Doha for a lifting of international sanctions against his country, during his first official visit to Qatar. Mr. Chibani, accompanied by the Syrian Defense Minister, Mourhaf Abou Qasra, and the head of the intelligence services, Anas Khattab, met the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed Ben Abderrahmane Al Thani. The latter has “reiterated Qatar’s position in favor of the unity, sovereignty and independence of Syria”according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After a meeting with Qatari Minister of State Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Syrian minister told journalists that he had presented to Qatari officials the “road map” of the new Syrian administration. He said he had also raised the question of the sanctions imposed on his country and which, according to him, constitute a “obstacle to a rapid recovery” of the Syrian economy. “We also renew our call on the United States to lift sanctions”he said.