WASHINGTON (AP) — Hosted by President Donald Trump Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa Speaking at the White House on Monday, he welcomed the once-pariah state into the U.S.-led global coalition fighting Islamic State.
The visit by a Syrian head of state to the White House is the first since the Middle Eastern country gained independence from France in 1946 and comes after the United States lifted sanctions imposed on Syria during decades of rule by the Assad family. Al-Shara led the rebel army. Overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Named last December interim leader of the country In January.
Trump and Al-Shallah – Once upon a time Connection with Al Qaeda A bounty of 10 million US dollars was placed on his head. The first time we met was in May. In Saudi Arabia. at that time, The President of the United States explained Al-Sharah is “a young, attractive guy. A tough guy. A strong past, a very strong past. A fighter.” This is the first official meeting between the United States and Syria since 2000, when then-President Bill Clinton met with President Bashar Assad’s father, Hafez Assad.
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said Monday’s visit was “part of the president’s diplomatic efforts to meet with anyone around the world who pursues peace.”
Republican President Donald Trump recently said al-Shara has been “doing a very good job so far” and that “we’ve made a lot of progress on Syria” since the U.S. eased sanctions.
An official familiar with the administration’s plans said Syria’s participation in the global coalition fighting Islamic State would allow it to work more closely with the U.S. military, although the New Syrian Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria are already fighting Islamic State.
Prior to al-Shara’s arrival in the United States, the United Nations Security Council voted to lift sanctions U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Walz said the move against the Syrian president and other government officials was a strong sign that Syria was entering a new era since the fall of Assad.
Mr. Al-Sharah comes to the meeting with his own priorities. He wants a permanent lifting of sanctions punishing Syria for widespread allegations of human rights abuses by the Assad regime and security forces. Caesar Act sanctions are currently being waived by President Trump, but permanent repeal would require action by Congress.
One option is a proposal by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to end the sanctions unconditionally. The other was drafted by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.C.), a hawkish Trump ally who wants to set conditions for sanctions removal to be reviewed every six months.
But supporters say a conditional withdrawal would prevent companies from investing in Syria for fear of potential sanctions. Mouaz Mustafa, director-general of the Syria Emergency Response Headquarters, likened it to a “hanging shadow that paralyzes all efforts for our country.”
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Associated Press writer Konstantin Tropin contributed to this report.
