The United States has alerted Syrian diplomats that America has decided to lift various embargos against Syria, with more suspensions of embargos on the way.
Dr. Imad Mustafa, Syria's ambassador to Washington, told Syrian television Sunday that U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama has suspended several articles of the U.S. sanction against Syria, with more suspensions to come, according to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Syria may now participate in the market for civil aviation safety and plane components, and may purchase communications and information systems equipment and technology, such as software, hardware, and internet-related equipment.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security website lists the initiation of an embargo status against Syria as commencing in December 2003 under the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003. Congress passed the law "to sanction Syria for its support for terrorism, its occupation of Lebanon, its pursuit and development of weapons of mass destruction and missiles, and its failure to support the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq," according to the website.
Mustafa told Syrian television that Obama's administration is "working on suspending articles one at a time until the law is void."
The Syrian diplomat noted that Israel's lobby isn't as strong as America's industrial and financial companies, which are harmed by the anti-Syrian embargo. The Boeing Company, developers of aircraft technology, are particularly interested in nullifying the embaro, according to Mustafa.
Mustafa was present Sunday for a meeting between Syrian President Bashar Assad and US special presidential envoy to the Mideast George Mitchell, in which the parties discussed a warming of relations between the countries.