Damascus – Details Press
Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Yusr Barniyeh confirmed on Sunday that he will travel to Washington, accompanied by the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdul Qader Hasriyeh, and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, to hold a series of meetings with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The minister said in a post on the X platform, “I am heading to the United States to represent Syria at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.”
He explained that he will participate in the meetings with Dr. Abdul Qader Hasriyeh, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, noting that he and the Syrian delegation have a large number of bilateral meetings scheduled in Washington.
He continued, “We look forward to Syria’s return to the international financial system and the international community, and we hope that the meetings will support our efforts in rebuilding Syria.”
These statements come after the US government granted visas to the Syrian delegation to visit Washington, headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad al-Shaibani.
For his part, Abdul Qader Hasriyya, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, re-shared Barniya’s post, saying: “My mission during the IMF and World Bank meetings is to work on reintegrating Syria into the… The global financial system.”
On the other hand, US Congressman Marilyn Stutzman described his visit to Syria as a “wonderful experience,” in his first statement following his meetings with the Syrian government.
Stutzman confirmed that the meetings he held in Damascus were “positive,” noting that he would convey the details of these meetings to officials in Washington upon his return to the United States, according to “Syrian News.”
The congressman emphasized the importance of building personal relationships with the Syrian leadership, saying, “It is very important that we have a friendly leader in Syria, not just an ally of America.”
Syria needs sanctions relief to revive its economy, which has been devastated by the long war. Syrian officials, including Al-Sheibani and President Ahmad al-Sharaa, have called for the full lifting of sanctions, considering their continuation after Assad’s ouster “unjust.”
