U.S. House Chairman of Foreign Relations: State Department must prevent normalization of relations with Assad regime

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter to the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives called for a redoubling of bipartisan efforts to oppose the normalization of the relations with the Syrian regime headed by Bashar al-Assad given its continued criminality and gross human rights abuses.

Eliot Engel (D-NY-16), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, commented on the attempt by some Arab and European countries to normalize relations with Assad’s government.

Engel sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday asking him to redouble bipartisan efforts to oppose the normalization of states with Assad.

In his letter, Engel expressed deep concern that, “various countries have taken steps to renew diplomatic relations with Bashar al-Assad despite his continued brutal treatment without remorse.”

“Given the Syrian regime’s continuing deplorable crimes against its people,” read the letter,” we urge the State Department to continue to make it clear to our allies and partners that the United States opposes any efforts to renew diplomatic relations with the regime or extend official diplomatic recognition.”