After a 25-Year Absence.. Syrian Foreign Minister Visits Washington to Discuss Israel and Sanctions

SadaNews: Axios reported on Thursday that Syrian Foreign Minister, Asad al-Shaybani, will visit the United States today to discuss the issues of Israel and the sanctions imposed on Damascus.

The website explained that the Syrian Foreign Minister will discuss negotiations with Israel regarding a new security deal in Washington.

Axios quoted lawmakers and U.S. officials stating that al-Shaybani will visit the United States for talks at the Capitol regarding the permanent lifting of remaining sanctions on Syria.

This visit is the first by a Syrian Foreign Minister to Washington in over 25 years, with the last visit of this kind occurring in December 1999, when then-Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara visited the White House for peace talks with Israel.

Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican representative from South Carolina, told Axios that he expects to meet al-Shaybani on Thursday with several senators to discuss the permanent lifting of the "Caesar" sanctions.

Graham stated that, to support this move, he wants to see Syria officially join the coalition against ISIS and move towards a new security agreement with Israel.

The "Caesar" law is a U.S. law that came into effect in June 2020, targeting the Assad regime and any entity dealing with it, particularly in sectors such as energy, construction, and finance.

The Trump administration issued temporary waivers from these sanctions, but only Congress has the authority to vote on their repeal.

Al-Shaybani is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday in Washington for talks.

Axios news website reported earlier on Thursday that the Israeli-Syrian discussions regarding a security agreement between the two countries are making progress.

The site explained that the meeting which brought together Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Shaybani, and U.S. envoy Tom Brack in London on Wednesday lasted five hours.

It noted that the Syrian side presented its response to the Israeli proposal for a security agreement, while a knowledgeable source confirmed that progress had been made during the talks in London towards a potential agreement.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara stated on Wednesday that security talks between Syria and Israel could yield results in the coming days, emphasizing that a security agreement between the two countries is essential, but it must respect Syrian airspace and territorial integrity and be subject to United Nations oversight.

Al-Shara added that "the success of a security agreement with Israel could open the door to other agreements," while stressing at the same time that "peace and normalization with Israel are not on the table at this time."