The Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Faisal Al-Miqdad, and the U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrett, inaugurated the residence of the U.S. Ambassador in Damascus, marking the official return of the U.S. diplomatic mission to the country after 13 years of interruption.
اضافة اعلان
The American flag was raised inside the residence in the presence of representatives from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Embassy, as well as several diplomats and journalists.
This step is considered a practical indication of the development of Syrian-American relations following the new phase the country is witnessing.
The United States had closed its embassy in Damascus in February 2012 due to the outbreak of the Syrian crisis. Since then, U.S. representation in Syria was limited to indirect functions through neighboring countries.
The opening of the ambassador’s residence represents a preparatory step toward the return of the U.S. ambassador to carry out his duties from inside Syria, in the context of the diplomatic thaw following the formation of the new government headed by Ahmad Shara.
A series of international measures have also begun to lift the isolation of Damascus and reintegrate it into the regional and international political arena.
— SANA
