The Syrian Democratic Platform appreciates the decision issued by US President Donald Trump on May 13, 2025 from the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which ordered the lifting of US sanctions imposed on Syria since August 3, 1978.
This decision represents an important political shift that reflects international recognition of the role played by the Syrian leadership in reshaping the country’s future, and confirms an Arab, regional and international openness to the new Syria.
This achievement is the culmination of the struggles of the Syrian people, who endured suffering and pain for decades and worked persistently to achieve this milestone. On this historic day, we thank the revolutionaries and every activist who stood up to the defunct regime. We also express our deep gratitude to the friendly countries that worked to convince the US administration of the need to lift the sanctions, as well as the friends of the Syrian cause among politicians and activists in America, Europe, Turkey and the Arab world, who supported the Syrian transformation process and contributed to the realization of this achievement.
As we congratulate the new Syrian leadership on its success in this process, we call on it to continue its approach based on consolidating transitional justice, promoting national dialogue, and protecting the Syrian fabric, stressing that the lifting of sanctions carries a political dimension that reflects the international recognition of this leadership and its Arab, regional, and international embrace.
This historical transformation should be a motivation to make Syria a permanent economic workshop. The building of Syrian national identity is based on the strength of the economy, which is not only a means of material well-being, but also a central element in the formation of political identities. Independent economic growth is a condition for establishing true national sovereignty and removing Syria from the circles of political dependence that have been imposed on it for decades.
In this context, we emphasize the need for democratic practice to play a fundamental role in Syria, as it is the only guarantee that the experience of one-party rule imposed by the Baath Party and the Assad regime will not be repeated, and will ensure a pluralistic political future that enshrines the state of citizenship and entrenches public freedoms.
We also emphasize that the lifting of sanctions is an opportunity for Syria to achieve balanced economic development and a comprehensive renaissance, without the price being a concession to Syrian national sovereignty, and the need to strengthen the role of Syrian civil society in shaping the country’s future.
In this context, we in the Syrian Democratic Platform call for the speedy extension of the state’s authority over the entire Syrian map, and serious work on the birth of a new parliament that represents the will of the people and carries a comprehensive national project.
At the same time, we caution that the decision to lift sanctions should not be a gateway to recycle the corrupt individuals who have been wreaking havoc in the country for many years.
We in the Syrian Democratic Platform believe that the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on May 13, 2025 was not just a passing diplomatic event, but the beginning of a new era that may redefine Syria’s position in the international system, and that success will not be guaranteed if the Syrian administration does not meet this international openness with internal openness, by providing political reassurances with courageous sovereign decisions.
Therefore, we in the Syrian Democratic Platform believe that President Ahmad al-Sharaa has a historic opportunity to lead the great transformation, not only as head of state, but also as the conscience of a people who deserve life after years of pain, and as the leader of a long-awaited march, the title of which is:
- Launching unprecedented domestic initiatives including the promotion of freedoms, national reconciliation, and administrative and economic reform.
- Ensuring the independence of national decision-making while maintaining the balance of international relations without aligning with any axis.
- Forming a national reconstruction committee under the supervision of impartial parties and according to transparent principles.
- Reconstructing the Syrian official discourse to be one of reconciliation and partnership, not one of victory and monopolization of power.
- Addressing the people with an emotional and rational discourse that makes them feel that they are partners in the decision and not just recipients of it.
In this context, the Syrian Democratic Platform calls on the Syrian leadership to take advantage of this historic stage to establish the rules of justice, democracy and political participation, in order to achieve stability and establish a true national renaissance, in which national sovereignty and the strength of civil society are the cornerstones of the future Syria.
Issued by the Syrian Democratic Platform
on: 05/17/2025
