Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani, left, speaks as he attends a Security Council meeting on the situation of the Middle East at United Nations Headquarters on Friday. (Reuters)
The United States publicly spelled out at the United Nations on Friday the steps it wants Syria to take before Washington will change its stance toward the country, as Syria’s foreign minister appealed for tough sanctions to be lifted.
Reuters reported last month that Washington had handed Syria a list of conditions it wants Damascus to fulfill in exchange for partial sanctions relief. On Friday, acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea listed them publicly.
She said the US wants Syria’s authorities to fully renounce and suppress terrorism, adopt a policy of non-aggression to neighboring states, exclude foreign terrorist fighters from any official roles, prevent Iran and its proxies from exploiting Syrian territory, destroy weapons of mass destruction, assist in the recovery of US citizens disappeared in Syria, and ensure the security and freedoms of all Syrians.
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“The United States continues to observe the actions of the interim authorities and will determine our actions based on a pattern of behavior. The core leadership must move beyond its past,” Shea told the 15-member Security Council.
Former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December by a lightning rebel offensive after a brutal 14-year civil war and there is now a new Islamist leadership in Damascus. The newly adopted Syrian flag was raised at the UN on Friday.
SYRIA SEEKS TO SHOW PROGRESS
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, addressing the Security Council for the first time, sought to show that Syria was addressing some of the demands listed by the U.S. and appealed for sanctions to be lifted.
“Those who demand more from Syria are the same ones who insist on maintaining many sanctions imposed against it. These sanctions force Syria to play the role of an aid dependent country rather than being a partner in global economic growth,” he told the Security Council.
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Tough US sanctions imposed during Assad’s rule remain in place. In January, the US issued a six-month exemption for some sanctions to encourage aid, but this has had limited effect and Reuters reported in February that efforts to pay public sector salaries with foreign financing had been hampered by uncertainty over whether it could breach U.S. sanctions.
“These restrictive measures imposed against the previous regime prevent capital and expertise from entering our country while allowing illicit networks to flourish,” al-Shibani said.
He said Syria was combating Islamic State militants, working constructively with the U.N. chemical weapons watchdog, uniting military factions, preserving state institutions and taking steps toward constitutional reform. It had also launched a national dialogue, he said.
“We will also announce genuine steps towards a national parliament that represents the Syrian people,” al-Shibani said.
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He said Syria would establish a commission for missing persons and was ready to coordinate with the US to also search for Americans missing in Syria.
