Shafaq News/ Senior US diplomatshave arrived in Syria to hold the first direct and official meeting withrepresentatives of the new regime, the US State Department revealed on Friday.
The State Department's top MiddleEast diplomat Barbara Leaf, Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs RogerCarstens and newly appointed Senior Advisor Daniel Rubinstein—tasked withleading the Department's Syria engagement—will be the first American diplomatsto travel to Damascus since the Syrian opposition ousted President Basharal-Assad, according to Reuters.
During their meetings with HayatTahrir al-Sham (HTS) representatives, the US officials will discuss principlessuch as inclusivity and minority rights, which Washington aims to integrateinto Syria’s political transition, the Department spokesperson said.
The delegation will also seek newinformation about American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted during areporting trip to Syria in August 2012, and other US citizens missing under theAl-Assad regime.
“They will be engaging directly withthe Syrian people, including members of civil society, activists, members ofdifferent communities, and other Syrian voices about their vision for thefuture of their country and how the United States can help support them,” thespokesperson added. "They also plan to meet with representatives of HTS todiscuss transition principles endorsed by the United States and regionalpartners in Aqaba, Jordan.”
Analysts consider the visit asignificant step as Western governments gradually open channels to HTS and itsleader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and begin debating whether to remove the group'sterrorist designation. The US delegation's trip follows recent contacts withFrance and the UK.
HTS remains on the StateDepartment's terrorist list and was previously affiliated with al-Qaeda.However, it has attempted to distance itself from its past and claims to haveadopted a more moderate stance.
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