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The federal government has removed Syria from its list of states that sponsor terrorism, almost a year after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Syria had been put on the list in 2012 while Assad was still in power. The country was in the midst of a conflict that began in March 2011, killing nearly half a million people and displacing half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.
Syria’s new government — headed by former Islamist insurgent leader and now interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa — has been putting effort into reintegrating the country into the international fold.
Ottawa has also removed al-Sharaa’s group, the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham — an offshoot and former affiliate of al-Qaeda — from Canada’s list of terrorist groups.
“These decisions were not taken lightly; the safety and security of Canadians will remain paramount,” a statement from Global Affairs Canada said.
“These measures are in line with recent decisions taken by our allies, including the United Kingdom and the United States, and follows the efforts by the Syrian transitional government to advance Syria’s stability, build an inclusive and secure future for its citizens and work alongside global partners to reinforce regional stability and counter terrorism.”
A delegation of representatives from the 15 member states of the United Nations Security Council visited Syria on Thursday.
In brief remarks to journalists in Damascus, Samuel Zbogar, permanent representative of Slovenia to the U.N. and president of the Security Council, said the delegation had come to “build trust,” adding “I hope that today we made a step forward.”
He said the delegation had met with al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and other cabinet members. The group also met with local UN staff, Syrian civil society and religious leaders and communities affected by sectarian violence earlier this year on the coast and in southern Syria’s Sweida province.
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed al-Shaara to the White House last month after removing sanctions on the interim president.
