Wheat shipment arrives in Syria as EU passes legislation to lift sanctions

A vessel carrying 28,500 tonnes of wheat has docked at the Syrian port of Tartous, marking one of the first major trade deliveries since the European Union and the United States lifted their economic sanctions on the nation, recovering from nearly 14 years of civil war and economic devastation. The move comes after the EU Council passed legislation on Wednesday that formalised the bloc’s decision to end restrictive measures against Syria. The political decision was agreed upon by EU foreign ministers last week and follows a similar announcement by the United States earlier this month. Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdel Wahed, reporting from Damascus, said, “There is no detail about the origin of the shipment, but we know this has a crucial significance for the Syrian people and the government. “This is an indication the country can be re-integrated into the international community, that trade and commerce can be reactivated and an indication that the country, in the aftermath of the ...