Syria's Economy Will Be Open for Foreign Investment, Foreign Minister Says

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
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Syria's Economy Will Be Open for Foreign Investment, Foreign Minister Says

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said on Wednesday that the country will open its economy to foreign investment and that Damascus is also working on energy and electricity partnerships with Gulf states.
"Syria's economic resources are diverse and we have a lot of sectors - industry, tourism... of course the economy in the future will be open and will open the road for foreign investment," he said at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Shibani paid separate visits to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in early January, during which he discussed bolstering ties.
At Davos, Shibani said a committee of representatives from various groups would work on the country's new constitution after holding a national dialogue, which Syria's leadership says will include all segments of society to chart a path for the nation after the opposition factions ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
"We need an inclusive transition leading to a new constitution, free and fair elections, in a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that will restore Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity," UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said at a separate press conference in Damascus on Wednesday.
Both Pedersen and Shibani reiterated calls for ending the international sanctions imposed on Syria.



European Parliament Requests Immediate Release of Sansal

French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal (AFP) 
French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal (AFP) 
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European Parliament Requests Immediate Release of Sansal

French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal (AFP) 
French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal (AFP) 

The European Union Parliament adopted on Thursday a resolution calling for the immediate release of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who has been detained in Algeria since November.

“Sansal must be immediately and unconditionally released, alongside journalist Abdelwakil Blamm, writer Tadjadit Mohamed, and all other activists, journalists, human rights defenders and people detained for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression in Algeria,” according to a statement released by the Parliament.

The resolution was adopted by 533 votes for, 24 against and 48 abstentions. It was supported by five of the eight political groups in the European Parliament (conservatives from the European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists, nationalists from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, liberals from the Renew Europe Group, and the Group of the Greens).

The 75-year-old writer, granted French nationality in 2024, is being held under Article 87 of the Algerian penal code, which covers terrorism, threats and state security.

His detention by Algeria comes against a background of tensions between France and its former colony.

Last January, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Algeria, saying Sansal was being held “in a totally arbitrary manner” by the Algerian authorities. In response, the Algerian government dismissed Macron’s comments, calling them “an unacceptable intrusion in Algeria’s internal affairs.”