US envoy Tom Barrack considered that this week “represents a decisive turning point in the modern history of the Middle East, and in Syria’s remarkable transformation from isolation to partnership,” in his comment on the visit of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Washington.
He also called for the “next step” after the visit, which is to cancel the “Caesar Act.”
Barak said in a statement on Thursday: “I had the great honor of accompanying Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the White House, as he became the first Syrian president to ever visit the White House since Syria gained its independence in 1946.”
The American diplomat continued: “(US President Donald) Trump indicated on May 13 that he would lift all US sanctions to give Syria a chance. In a warm and objective meeting this week, the two presidents affirmed a shared conviction that the time has come to replace aversion with engagement, and give Syria and its people a real opportunity for renewal.”
Barrack said: “I, along with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, witnessed in the Oval Office the Sharia commitment of President Trump to join the international coalition against ISIS.”
He considered that “this is a historical framework that represents Syria’s transition from a source of terrorism to a partner in the fight against terrorism, and a commitment to rebuilding, cooperating, and contributing to the stability of the entire region.”
Barak continued: “Syria will now actively help confront and dismantle the remnants of ISIS, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist networks, and will stand as a committed partner in the global effort to secure peace.”
He also spoke about the next phase of tripartite cooperation, between the United States, Turkey, and Syria, saying: “In a pivotal session with Rubio, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Al-Shaybani, we mapped out the next phase of the American-Turkish-Syrian framework: integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into the new Syrian economic, defense, and civil structure.”
Barak’s statement also referred to “redefining Turkish-Syrian-Israeli relations” and “moving forward with the consensus on which the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is based, as well as various Lebanese border issues.”
He said, “The next step to giving Syria a real chance is the complete repeal of the Caesar Act,” which imposed harsh economic sanctions against the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad.
He continued: “We call on Congress and urge it to take this historic step. We have come a long way, but now we need a strong final push to enable the new Syrian government to restart its economic engine, and allow the Syrian people and their regional neighbors not only to survive, but to thrive.”
