Britain on Thursday lifted sanctions that had been imposed on several Syrian government agencies during the rule of the now-deposed president, Bashar al-Assad, in the latest sign of Western engagement with the country’s new leaders.
In a notice updating its list of those sanctioned, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office named a dozen organizations — many defense or security related, including Syria’s interior and defense ministries and its military intelligence agency — that were no longer subject to an asset freeze.
In a separate statement, it added that Britain would end “restrictions on some sectors, including financial services and energy production in Syria,” in a move designed to encourage investment in Syrian energy infrastructure and help with the country’s economic recovery.
“The Syrian people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their country and economy, and a stable Syria is in the U.K.’s national interest,” Hamish Falconer, a minister at the British Foreign Office responsible for the Middle East, said in the statement.
The move follows the formation last month by Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Shara, of a caretaker government that aims to lead the fractured country through a crucial period of transition following the ouster of the Assad family’s dictatorship.
Mr. al-Shara, who led the rebel coalition that toppled Mr. al-Assad in December, has been trying to persuade Western capitals that he and his compatriots have cast off their jihadist origins.
Europe and the United States had already eased some sanctions on the country, in part in response to that push and calls from some charities to relax restrictions to help reconstruction efforts. But, in a recent interview with The New York Times, Mr. al-Shara said that the measures taken against the former Syrian government were still hobbling his ability to kick start the economy.
“The sanctions were implemented as a response to crimes committed by the previous regime against the people,” he said.
Last month, American officials pressed that more demands to be met, including the destruction of chemical weapons stores and cooperation on counterterrorism efforts, before more sanctions are lifted.
Mr. al-Shara told The Times that some of the American conditions “need to be discussed or modified,” but did not give further details.
In February, European Union foreign ministers ended sanctions on five financial entities and suspended some measures taken against the Syrian oil, gas, electricity and transportation industries.
In March Britain lifted its freeze on the assets of 24 Syrian entities, including the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Arab Airlines and energy companies.
Then, earlier this month Britain welcomed the creation of the new Syrian government, describing it as “an important milestone” in the country’s transition.
Among the groups removed from the British sanctions list on Thursday were the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense, the General Intelligence Directorate, the Air Force Intelligence Agency, the Political Security Directorate, the Syrian National Security Bureau, the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Army Supply Bureau. Several media organizations, including a state-run agency and outlets that published information supporting the former government, were also in Thursday’s announcement.
Stephen Castle is a London correspondent of The Times, writing widely about Britain, its politics and the country’s relationship with Europe.
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