U.S. lowers Syrian mission status due to government non-recognition
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A U.S. official stated on Tuesday that the United States has modified the designation of the Syrian diplomatic mission, clarifying that it no longer recognizes any entity as the official Syrian government. However, the mission’s privileges and immunities at the United Nations remain unchanged.
The U.S. delivered a memorandum to the Syrian mission in New York—via the United Nations—informing them that their legal status had been altered from a permanent mission of a U.N. member state to a mission of an unrecognized government.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Al Jazeera on Tuesday, that they have amended the visas of the Syrian mission because they do not currently recognize any entity as the Syrian government.
He emphasized, however, that there has been no change to the privileges or immunities of the Syrian mission to the United Nations.
In response, Syria’s Foreign Ministry described the change as a technical and administrative procedure, insisting it does not reflect a shift in Washington’s stance on the Syrian transitional government.
The U.S. spokesperson reiterated that their decision to amend the visa status of members of the Syrian mission to the United Nations is purely administrative.