Tom Barrack, the US special envoy to Syria, on Thursday expressed the need to “redefine” the Middle East’s relations with Turkey and Israel as a “next step” to pave the way for peace in the region.
The US ambassador to Turkey also highlighted important meetings between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Turkish and Syrian Foreign Ministers Hakan Fidan and Assad al-Shaybani, respectively, which he said “established a framework” that would lay the foundation for future bilateral relations.
He therefore reiterated the importance of “integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria’s economic, military and civil structures and redefining the country’s relations with Turkey and Israel.”
In this sense, he called on the US Congress to explicitly lift sanctions imposed on Syria, which would “actively support the dismantling of groups such as the Islamic State, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist networks.” “Syria will emerge as a committed partner in global efforts to achieve peace,” he added, according to a statement published through social networks.
“We call on Congress to take this historic step. We have come a long way, but now we need one last strong push to strengthen Syria’s new government, restore the economy, and ensure that the Syrian people and our neighbors in the region not only survive, but thrive.”
Similarly, he stressed that “Turkey’s tireless role deserves special recognition and is a testament to the prudent and resolute diplomacy that makes it possible to build bridges where there were walls before.”
“The path will not be easy. Integration is a process, not an event, and one man’s vision is now shared by many and can become a reality,” he ventured, before calling for “a real opportunity for Syria.”
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