On Friday, Syria considered the US Senate’s repeal of the “Caesar Act” as a constructive step towards correcting the course of relations with the United States.

In a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Syria welcomed the positive development represented by the US Senate (the upper house of Congress) adopting a budget provision that cancels the so-called “Caesar Act.”

It explained that the Caesar Act was imposed on the former regime due to its crimes, and its continuation after the regime’s fall leaves severe humanitarian and economic impacts on the Syrian people, negatively affecting civilians’ lives across various sectors.

Syria also expressed appreciation for this responsible American approach, thanking the US legislative circles that recognized the importance of reconsidering previous policies.

The decision was described as a constructive step towards correcting bilateral relations between the two countries, contributing to enhancing regional security and stability, and opening promising opportunities for humanitarian and economic cooperation.

The US Senate’s decision was called a “transformation” carrying highly strategic significance as it reflects a qualitative change in the international community’s approach to the Syrian file.

Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad Al-Bashir said the repeal of the Caesar Act represents significant progress in policy towards Syria and an important step for reconstruction, development, and political and economic stability.

He added in a post on the X platform that this step brings a ray of hope to end many years of humanitarian suffering that burdened Syrians.

Meanwhile, Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Yassar Bernia considered the Senate’s vote to repeal the Caesar Act as “the success of Syrian diplomacy in getting rid of the last and harshest US sanctions imposed on the country.”

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson announced on Friday that the Senate voted to repeal the Caesar Act imposed on Syria during the ousted regime’s rule.

In a post on the X platform, the congressman thanked the US Senate for approving the repeal of the Caesar Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, saying “the harsh sanctions were imposed on a regime that fortunately no longer exists,” and confirmed that the full repeal “now depends on Syria’s success,” according to his expression.

Wilson announced on June 12 that he had introduced legislation to Congress to fully repeal the Caesar Act and its sanctions on Syria.

Wilson is among the prominent US lawmakers who have called over recent months for lifting sanctions on Syria, including the Caesar Act, according to the Syrian state news channel.

Meanwhile, Syrian American Council member in Washington Mohammad Alaa Ghanem said the Senate approved the budget version that includes a provision to fully repeal the Caesar Act, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Caesar is the pseudonym of former Syrian military police photographer Farid Al-Mazeh, who defected from the Syrian regime in 2013, carrying with him 55,000 photos showing torture and violations in Syrian prisons.

US lawmakers introduced the “Caesar” bill in 2016 aiming to “stop the wholesale killing of the Syrian people, encourage a peaceful settlement through negotiation, and hold Syrian human rights violators accountable for their crimes.”

On December 11, 2019, Congress passed the Caesar Act to punish Assad regime officials for war crimes committed against civilians in Syria.