Syrian Foreign Minister Visits Washington, Will Discuss Revocation Of US Sanctions

JAKARTA - Syrian Foreign Minister (Menlu) Asaad al-Shibadi is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Thursday on his first official visit to the US capital since the new rulers took over Damascus last year.

"The first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Washington in more than 25 years, Shibani will meet with US lawmakers to discuss lifting the remaining US sanctions against his country," Senator Lindsey Graham was quoted as saying by Axios.

The visit came after several senior US diplomats focused on Syria were suddenly dismissed from their posts amid pressure from pro-Damaskus policy, as Washington seeks to integrate its old Syrian Kurdish allies with President Ahmed al-Sharaa's central government.

The United States has also mediated between Israel and Syria. Sharaa, which is scheduled to visit New York next week to attend the UN General Assembly, said negotiations to reach a security pact with Israel could bear fruit "in the coming days."