US cancels award for new Syrian leader after meeting in Damascus
Kyiv • UNN
The United States canceled the reward for the arrest of HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa after the first official meeting in Damascus. Syria's new leader promised to fight terrorism and promote regional peace.
Washington has canceled a long-standing reward for the arrest of Syria's new leader, a senior U.S. diplomat said on Friday, following "positive reports" from the first meeting, which included a promise to fight terrorism, AFP reported, UNN reported.
Details
Barbara Leaf, Washington's top diplomat in the Middle East, made the statement after meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, the first official mission of US diplomats to the Syrian capital since the first days of the Syrian civil war.
The lightning offensive that toppled President Bashar al-Assad on December 8 was led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has roots in al-Qaeda's Syrian branch but has been seeking to soften its image in recent years.
Leaf's meeting with the leader of HTS Sharaa took place despite the fact that Washington had designated his group a terrorist organization six years ago.
"Based on our discussion, I told him that we would not seek the 'Justice Award', "Leaf told reporters.
After their talks, "it's a little inconsistent that there's a bounty on the guy's head," she said, welcoming his message.
"We will make progress in these principles and actions, not just words," she said.
After the meeting, a statement by Syria's new leaders said they wanted to contribute to regional peace.
"The Syrian people are at an equal distance from all countries and parties in the region... Syria rejects any polarization," the statement said.
Leaf noted that she told Sharaa about "the critical need to ensure that terrorist groups do not pose a threat inside or outside of Syria, including to the United States and our partners in the region.
"Ahmed al-Sharaa is committed to this," she said.
During a regional tour before the Aqaba talks, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized the need to prevent the revival of the Islamic State (IS) jihadists.
On Friday, the US military said that its forces killed the leader of the ISIS and another militant in the province of Deir ez-Zor, part of an escalation of US military operations against the group after the overthrow of Assad.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who supported Assad's opponents, stressed the need for reconciliation and restoration of the territorial integrity and unity of Syria.
Turkey has been putting pressure on Kurdish forces in Syria, and Erdogan said on Friday that it was time to destroy "terrorist" groups operating in the country, including ISIS and Kurdish fighters.
"ISIS, the PKK and their affiliates, which threaten the survival of Syria, must be eradicated," he told reporters after the summit in Cairo, referring to ISIS and the Kurdistan Workers' Party, respectively.
The autonomous administration in northeastern Syria is protected by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which mainly consist of the People's Protection Units (YPG).
Turkey accuses the YPG of being a branch of the PKK, which both Washington and Ankara consider a terrorist group.
Kurdish leaders in Syria have welcomed Assad's removal and raised the three-star flag of independence-era rebels, but many in the region fear continued attacks from Turkey and its allies.
Leaf said that Washington is calling for a ceasefire between Turkish-backed forces and the SDF around the Kurdish-held Syrian border town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab.
During a visit to Ankara on Friday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock warned of the danger of any "escalation" of hostilities, saying: "security, especially for the Kurds, is crucial for a free and secure future for Syria.
Iran and Russia have long helped support Assad, but on Friday, Leaf said she expects Iran's involvement in Syria to end completely.
Amy Pope, head of the UN Migration Agency, on Friday called on "the interim government to continue to empower women as they will be crucial to the country's recovery.
Pope also called for a review of a number of international sanctions against Syria to help the country recover.
The civil war in Syria has claimed the lives of more than 500,000 people and created millions of refugees.
On Friday, almost two weeks after Assad fell and fled to Moscow, Syrians continued to celebrate.
