US affirms Austin Tice held in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The US Department of State said on Thursday, Washington still believes that Journalist Austin Tice is held by the Syrian government.
Remarks made by Ned Price, the spokesman for the US Department of State, came in reply to a statement made by the Syria’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
On Wednesday, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates denied that the US statements about arresting any American citizens including Austin Tice in Syria are “misleading and illogical statements,” according to the state-run News Agency SANA.
Price retaliated saying, the statement “does nothing to change our fundamental position.”
“We call on the Syrian Government to ensure that Austin Tice and every U.S. national held hostage in Syria can return home,” he added.
He stressed his countries extensive and direct engagement with Syrian officials “to try to get Austin home.”
“We will continue to pursue every avenue we conceivably can to secure Austin’s prompt release,” Price added.
The fate of Tice remains uncertain since he went missing at one of the security checkpoints run by the Syrian government forces in 2012 close to the capital Damascus, according to Reporters Without Borders.
On August 10, which marked the tenth anniversary of Tice being missing, US President Joe Biden urged the Syrian government to help return the journalist.
On August 15, US Department of State announced that they contacted Syrian officials via a third party to help bring Tice home.
The US announcement was followed by successive reactions from both parties.