UPDATE - Women must be part of Syria's future: Foreign minister

REVISES BYLINE, DATELINE, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, ADDS MORE DETAILS

By Laith Al-jnaidi and Irmak Akcan

DAMASCUS/ANKARA (AA) - Women must be part of Syria’s future, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Wednesday.

"Women must be part of the future of Syria. I guarantee their role in this process, and I say this both on behalf of myself and the Syrian government. We must give them rights," al-Shaibani said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He noted that Syria has many religions, languages and races and that the people were victims of “sectarian governments” in the past, stressing that Syria belongs to all Syrians, regardless of race, religion or language.

Al-Shaibani said the new administration is also focusing on the energy sector and they are cooperating with neighboring countries to solve the electricity shortages in Syria.

Highlighting that there are many Syrian refugees all over the world, Al-Shaibani said they have become experts in certain fields and possess a range of knowledge.

He said they want to call on Syrians living abroad to return to the country in the near future, underscoring that this added value is needed to help the Syrian people.

He added that the international community should help with the country's development in order to see a stable Syria

- Lifting sanctions on Syria 'key to stability'

Al-Shaibani said that lifting the decades-long economic sanctions imposed on his country is "the key to stability" in Syria.

The national focus now is to turn challenges into opportunities, and Damascus welcomes the return of refugees to help rebuild Syria, he said during a meeting with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss Syria and its economic future on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

He said Syria has entered a new era, and the new administration wants it to be a peaceful nation, adding it is critical to persuade Syrians both at home and abroad that their new government wants "peace, security and stability."

Al-Shaibani assured that his country "will not be a threat for any country in the world."

He said Syria is working on establishing partnerships with Gulf countries in the energy and electricity sectors.

Al-Shaibani added that Syria will open its economy to foreign investment in the coming phase.

He said if the world wants Syria to come out of its tragedy, it must support the dreams of the Syrian people, calling on the global community to "support Syria in shaping its future."

Sanctions on Syria date back to December 1979, when the US designated the country as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to data from the US State Department and the US Treasury Department. This designation brought export bans, sales restrictions and various financial constraints.

Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of the capital Damascus on Dec. 8 last year, ending his family's decades-long rule.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala and Serdar Dincel