U.S. changed Syrian mission status over unmet demands – Politician
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Washington downgraded the legal status of the Syrian mission to the United Nations in New York after the Syrian transitional government failed to respond to key U.S. demands, Hazem Alghabra, a politician and former advisor at the U.S. State Department, said on Monday.
Alghabra described the move as both a “political and legal decision,” adding that the change reflects U.S. immigration and diplomatic protocols.
“According to U.S. immigration and visa laws, any delegation’s visa status must align with its official recognition by the United States. This is about legitimate presence and compliance with American law,” he explained.
On Sunday, the U.S. delivered an official memorandum to the Syrian mission—via the United Nations—stating that its status had been changed from a permanent mission of a member state to the UN, to that of a mission representing a government not recognized by the United States.
He further noted that the U.S. had previously submitted a list of demands to the Syrian transitional government, but has yet to receive any official response. “The Syrian transitional government in Damascus has neither accepted nor rejected the list, and this lack of clarity poses a serious issue,” he said.
On April 1, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that the U.S. had outlined specific conditions for engaging with the transitional authorities. These included a complete rejection of terrorism, the exclusion of foreign terrorist fighters from official positions, and preventing Iran and its affiliated groups from exploiting Syrian territory.
Alghabra emphasized that the U.S. remains open to engagement with Syria but expects its conditions to be met. “Washington seeks to cooperate with Syria in a way that ensures regional and domestic stability. If the Syrian side rejects these demands, that position should at least be communicated transparently,” he concluded.