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The US envoy to Syria, James Jeffrey, contacted several of his European counterparts, Arab officials and Syrian opposition figures in recent hours, to inform them of the end of his duties and confirm that “US policy will continue” if the candidate Joe Biden wins the US presidency. Joel Robarn, who was present with him in most of his contacts and meetings after assuming his position in mid-2018, will assume the position during this period, as special coordinator in the Foreign Ministry for the Syrian file and representative of Washington in the international coalition. against “ISIS”. European officials said: “This is an indication of the continuation of the policy at the current stage until the formation of the American administration.”
“The Syrian Swamp”
Since taking office, Jeffrey (75 years old) has helped shape US policy toward Syria, and includes a number of elements, namely: the military presence in the northeast of the country to ensure the continued defeat of ISIS, support for the Autonomous Administration and the Kurdish-Kurdish dialogue, the continuation of the campaign of economic sanctions. Through the “Caesar Law” and external pressure, contact with Arab and European countries to avoid normalization with Damascus, provide support to Turkey in northwestern Syria, and support Israel in its incursions into “Iranian sites” in Syria.
European officials said Jeffrey “is among those who believe that these pressures have exacerbated the economic crisis, increased pressure on Russia and plunged it into the Syrian quagmire.” He said more than once that the “maximum pressure campaign” in Damascus aims to achieve a number of objectives, namely: “weaken Iranian influence, renounce chemical weapons, do not threaten neighboring countries, do not support terrorism. , implement Resolution 2254 and provide conditions for the return of refugees and displaced people “, in addition to Accountability.”
Jeffrey told his European counterparts in farewell communications that current US policy toward Syria “will continue” regardless of the election results. He added: “What can I say, regarding our presence in Syria, I don’t see any change in the presence of our forces, and I don’t see any change in our sanctions policy, and I don’t see any change in our demand that Iran leave. from Syria. Either with the Biden or Trump administration. ” He added in an interview with the website “SyriaDirect”: “We imposed sanctions on about 75 people under the (Caesar Law) and, under other laws, we found them in certain more reasonable circumstances. This is only the beginning of what “There will be more waves of sanctions. Once again, we start with the people closest to the lion, because we believe that it is very important to focus on the responsibility of those who financed it and the people who enabled its military machinery.”
Source: Middle East
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