Senior members of US Congress meet Syrian leader in Damascus

LONDON: Two members of Congress visited the Syrian Arab Republic as part of efforts to permanently repeal US sanctions placed on the country during its civil war.

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Rep. Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, met with Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Damascus on Monday along with other top officials.

They said ending the sanctions placed on the regime of former leader Bashar Assad is crucial to allow the country to recover from years of conflict, and to attract outside investment.

“A Syria that can stand on its own after ridding itself of the Assad regime will be a cornerstone for regional stability in the Middle East,” Shaheen said in a statement. “America is ready to be a partner to a new Syria that moves in the right direction.”

She added: “There is a long way to go, but it’s very positive and the potential is really amazing. The people that we met with were hopeful about the future.”