Syria receives first shipment of wheat after EU sanctions lifted

Council formally adopted legislation on Wednesday to end restrictive measures against Syria. The decision to lift sanctions was agreed by EU foreign ministers last week and follows a similar decision by the US announced earlier this month. The origin of the cargo was not specified, but the shipment is of immense importance to the Syrian people and government, Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdel Waheed, based in Damascus, said. “It shows the possibility of the country’s reintegration into the international community, the resumption of trade and Syria’s return to the international financial system,” he said. The lifting of sanctions that previously restricted Syria’s access to global trade and banking systems will help accelerate the reconstruction of the country’s infrastructure and economy. Syrian banks, including the Central Bank of Syria, have regained access to European financial markets. At the same time, the European Council extended the asset freeze and travel ban on individuals and ...