Barbara Leaf, Washington’s prime diplomat for the Center East, made the feedback after her assembly with Sharaa in Damascus – the primary formal mission to Syria’s capital by United States diplomats for the reason that early days of Syria’s civil warfare.
The lightning offensive that toppled President Bashar al-Assad on December 8 was led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is rooted in Al-Qaeda’s Syria department however has sought to average its picture in recent times.
Leaf’s assembly with HTS chief Sharaa got here regardless of Washington’s designation of his group as a terrorist organisation.
“Based mostly on our dialogue, I instructed him we’d not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward supply that has been in impact for some years,” Leaf instructed reporters after their talks.
She mentioned “we welcomed constructive messages” from Sharaa.
“We will probably be in search of progress on these rules and actions, not simply phrases,” she mentioned.
“I additionally communicated the significance of inclusion and broad session throughout this time of transition,” she mentioned.
“We absolutely help a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political course of that leads to an inclusive and consultant authorities which respects the rights of all Syrians, together with ladies, and Syria’s various ethnic and spiritual communities.”
