Key points
- Diplomat meets Syrian interim authorities
- Trip follows a December 20 visit by senior US officials
- Bashar Al-Assad fled to Moscow after anti-govt groups took control of Damascus
ANKARA: A top United States (US) diplomat travelled to Damascus for talks with the leadership of the interim authorities in Syria, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Ambassador Daniel Rubinstein, who remains in the region, engaged in regional efforts concerning Syria, according to the spokesperson, who described the talks as “constructive and have covered a wide range of local and global issues,” Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu reported.
“He has been traveling to Damascus as needed for various meetings, including today when he met with the leadership of the interim authorities,” said the spokesperson, who spoke to Anadolu on the condition of anonymity.
Syria’s rich diversity
Anadolu cited the spokesperson as saying that the US outlined its vision for Syria during the talks, emphasising the need for a Syria that is “inclusive” and safeguards human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Syrians, reflecting the nation’s rich diversity.
The trip follows a December 20 visit by senior US officials, including Barbara Leaf, assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs.
What happened in Syria?
Earlier on Monday, the US Treasury Department eased some sanctions on Syria for six months to support essential services like water, electricity, and sanitation. The license also allows transactions involving energy resources and non-commercial personal remittances through the Central Bank of Syria.
The decision follows years of sanctions linked to the former Syrian regime’s actions.
Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly twenty-five years, fled to Moscow after anti-government groups took control of Damascus on December 8.
The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks.
