UN envoy welcomes US removal of Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list

 

UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone on Thursday welcomed the US decision to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying the move could support economic recovery, while stressing the urgency of preparing for elections at the end of the country’s political transition.

Briefing the UN Security Council, Cordone said the decision could help create “more favorable conditions for economic recovery, investment, and broader international engagement with Syria.”

Citing an International Monetary Fund mission to Damascus last month, he said economic recovery was accelerating, with double-digit growth projected for 2026. However, he warned that “widespread poverty and renewed inflation mean conditions remain very difficult for most Syrians.”