Ranking Member Shaheen Statement on Bipartisan Meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Shaibani

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan group of senators, including Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chris Coons (D-DE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), in a meeting with U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani. The leaders affirmed common interest between the United States and Syria in a stable, economically prosperous Syria and the importance of Syria's future for regional stability. The participants also noted that sanctions are prohibiting urgently needed investment in Syria's economy. Ranking Member Shaheen, who has introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the sanctions, warned of the risk of inaction.

"Syria's economy is in crisis, and its authorities need financial resources to maintain basic functions of governance," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "If we are too slow to act, we risk plunging Syrians back into conflict, which is in no one's interest except for Russia and Iran. We have a small window of opportunity to put Syria on a path toward stability and prosperity. Members of our recent bipartisan congressional delegation to Syria as well as senior Administration officials all agree: now is the time for the Senate to act by repealing the Caesar Act sanctions."

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