The US rules out reopening its Embassy in Syria until the new Government complies with “certain principles”

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MADRID Dec. 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United States Government has stated this Tuesday that it does not plan to reopen its Embassy in Damascus soon, since it does not recognize Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the group that has led the rebel offensive against the Bashar al Assad regime until it overthrew him. last Sunday, as the ruling authority in Syria.

“It’s not something we have immediate plans to do, but we have made clear the steps we want to see the Syrian government take and… we are willing to recognize a Syrian government that does so. And, of course, the Opening an Embassy is the type of step that would follow that recognition,” explained State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller.

In a press conference, the spokesperson defended this position because they have not “recognized Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) as the ruling authority in Syria”, although he highlighted the jihadist group’s recent achievements in “taking control of some levers of power” and “work to appoint an acting prime minister.

“This is not something that is going to happen overnight. It has to be a Syrian-led process that unfolds over the next few weeks. We thought it was important, on behalf of the United States (…), to make clear certain principles that must be maintained during this transition process and during the formation of a new government,” the spokesperson highlighted.

These statements come after Miller himself stated this Monday that the United States wants to “hold talks with key groups inside Syria.” “It is obvious that HTS is one of them,” he said, although he does not contemplate removing the group from his list of terrorist organizations.

In recent days, the State Department has reiterated its messages in support of a “political transition process” in the Arab country that respects the rights of minorities, guarantees civil liberties, complies “with international standards of transparency and accountability ” and prevent Syria from becoming a “base for terrorism.”