Qatar to push for Syria sanctions relief in Washington

Qatar will push for Syria sanctions relief in Washington this week in a bid to loosen restrictions preventing the Gulf state from providing financial support to the fledgling government in Damascus.

The Gulf state has offered to provide financial support to the Syrian government to help pay public-sector salaries, but has held back due to the risk of breaching Washington's strict sanctions regime.

It has also pledged to provide a grant to fund new gas supplies and address Syria's severe electricity shortage.

Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi plans to discuss both issues with US officials in Washington this week.

"We're discussing it very closely with our US colleagues to see how we can move on with this project," Al-Khulaifi told AFP.

The remarks come as officials in Syria's new government prepare to participate in the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings for the first time since coming to power last year.

Syria's Finance Minister Yusr Barniyeh and the country's central bank chief are both in Washington this week for the global gathering, where they will meet with officials from international institutions and governments.

Saudi Arabia and the World Bank will on Tuesday hold a roundtable meeting to discuss restoring Syria's access to international financial assistance.

Western nations imposed a crippling sanctions regime on the Syrian economy in response to the Assad regime's crackdown on opposition protesters in 2011.

The EU and UK lifted some of the restrictions in the weeks following Assad's ouster but say they will leave most in place until the new authorities demonstrate a commitment to inclusive governance.

The Biden administration issued a temporary waiver on some restrictions in January but the Trump White House is taking a harder line and has reportedly conditioned sanctions relief on Damascus expelling Palestinian groups from the country.

Qatar's diplomatic push in Washington comes a few days after Syria's interim president Ahmed Al-Sharaa held talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha.

Qatar, along with Turkey, moved quickly following the ouster of the Assad regime to support the new administration as it attempts to stabilise a country wracked by almost 14 years of civil war and economic crisis.

Following the US sanctions waiver, the countries sent power ships to provide electricity to the Syrian grid and have pledged to deepen commercial and economic ties.

Saudi Arabia has joined Qatar in offering to provide financial support for Syria, earlier this month announcing that it would pay off its $15 million debt to the World Bank.

Clearing the debt would enable Damascus to access new grants and financial assistance from the international lender.