Washington- The United States on Monday called on Syria’s interim government to commit to transparent and accountable leadership, warning that its actions would be closely monitored by Washington and the international community.
Dorothy Shea, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement posted on X that “the Syrian people deserve leadership that is transparent, accountable, and fully committed to a more peaceful and prosperous future after 54 years of ruinous rule under the Assad regime.”
The ambassador urged the interim authorities to firmly renounce and combat terrorism, adopt a strict non-aggression policy toward neighboring countries, and expel any foreign terrorist fighters from holding official positions. She also stressed the need to prevent Iran and its proxies from exploiting Syrian territory.
Related: Syria Sends Written Response to U.S. Demands for Sanctions Relief
Shea further called for the destruction of any remaining weapons of mass destruction in Syria and for greater cooperation in locating missing American citizens believed to be held in the country.
The remarks come as diplomatic contacts between Washington and Damascus have increased. Over the weekend, Reuters reported that Syria’s new government delivered a written response to U.S. conditions for the possible easing of sanctions. According to unnamed diplomatic sources cited by the agency, the four-page document, handed over on April 14, addressed five of the eight American demands, while leaving the rest unresolved.
The document reportedly aligns with comments made last week by Syria’s Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani at a UN Security Council meeting, particularly on chemical weapons disarmament and the search for missing Americans.
Washington has said that any future steps regarding Syria will depend heavily on the new government’s compliance with these demands and its respect for human rights and regional stability.
