ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US reiterated on Tuesday that it stands against the normalization of ties with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, days after his second visit to Washington’s regional partner, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“Our stance against normalization remains unchanged. We will not normalize with the Assad regime, nor will we encourage others,” Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department, told reporters during a press briefing.
Assad visited the UAE for the second time since 2011 on Sunday, where he was received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who said it was time for Syria to return to the Arab fold.
“We continue to urge anybody engaging with Damascus to consider sincerely and thoroughly how their engagements can help provide for Syrians in need, no matter where they live”, Patel added.
The Syrian president first visited the UAE earlier this month in his first visit to an Arab country since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011. Syria was expelled from the Arab League and largely isolated by its neighbors when the war broke out.
The international community has accused Assad of committing war crimes in rebel-held areas and for brutal repression of opposition in regime-controlled parts of the country. Largely assisted by Russian air attacks, Assad restored control over most of the country after 12 years of war killed half a million people and displaced almost half of the Syrian population.
The devastating February 6 earthquake which tore through parts of Turkey and Syria has provided the Syrian regime with an opportunity of normalization within the Arab world, with numerous states rushing to offer aid.
Last month, Saudi Arabia said a consensus was emerging among Arab states that an end to Syria’s isolation and return to dialogue is needed in order to address the pending humanitarian issues.
The US remains firm in its stance that it will not engage with the Assad regime without any accountability for war-time abuses.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Washington announced it would grant six months of sanctions relief to allow aid to reach Syria.
