Secretary of State: US aims to prevent fragmentation of Syria

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the US has a clear interest in doing what it can to avoid the fragmentation of Syria, mass migrations from Syria. 

Blinken made these remarks during a briefing at the US Department of State, Caliber.Az reports.

“Now, the United States has clear and enduring interests in Syria.  We have a strong interest in preventing the re-emergence of ISIS given the death and destruction that it’s wrought for so long.  We have a clear interest in ensuring that whatever weapons of mass destruction or components are left in Syria do not fall into the wrong hands," he noted. 

"We have a clear interest in doing what we can to avoid the fragmentation of Syria, mass migrations from Syria, and of course, the export of terrorism and extremism. The region and the world have a responsibility to support the Syrian people as they begin to rebuild their country and chart a new direction.  The United States should be committed to supporting them as they do that,” he said.

“The Syrian people have endured so much suffering, we have work to do to ensure that they endure no more.  It’s imperative that all actors involved protect civilians; respect human rights, especially of vulnerable minorities; preserve the state’s institutions, its services to help meet the needs of the Syrian; and to build towards inclusive governance. Statements by rebel leaders to these ends are very welcome, but of course, the real measure of their commitment is not just what they say but what they do,” he stressed.

“We’re engaging closely with our partners in the region on the situation in northeastern Syria, underscoring to all parties the need to de-escalate and protect civilian populations.  So this moment presents an historic opportunity, but it also carries considerable risks.  History shows how quickly moments of promise can descend into conflict and violence,” he added.

On November 27, armed opposition groups launched a large-scale offensive against Syrian army positions in the Aleppo and Idlib provinces. By the evening of December 7, they had captured several major cities (Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, and Homs), and on December 8, they entered Damascus, with Syrian government forces withdrawing from the city. Syrian government leader Muhammad Ghazi al-Jalali expressed readiness for a peaceful transfer of power in the country. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Bashar al-Assad stepped down as president of Syria and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful handover of power.

By Naila Huseynova