US confirms meeting with Syria’s foreign minister in New York

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US officials met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani in New York, an American official confirmed to Anadolu on Wednesday.

“Department of State officials met yesterday (April 29) with the Syrian interim authorities,” a spokesperson said on condition of anonymity, declining to provide further details about the private diplomatic exchange.

“We continue to urge the interim authorities to choose policies that will reinforce stability for Syria's citizens, assure peace with Syria's neighbors, develop Syria's economy, and result in good-faith cooperation with the international community,” the spokesperson said.

“Any future normalization of relations or lifting of sanctions will depend on the interim authorities' actions and positive response to the specific confidence-building measures we have communicated,” the spokesperson added.

The meeting came days after the US outlined a list of demands to the new Syrian government in exchange for any potential sanctions relief.

The demands included the exclusion of foreign terrorist fighters from official posts, the destruction of weapons of mass destruction, support in locating missing US nationals, adopting a non-aggression policy toward neighboring countries and preventing Iran and its proxies from exploiting Syrian territory.

Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, marking the end of the Baath Party’s rule that began in 1963, after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus.

A transitional administration was announced on Jan. 29, which is led by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.