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Syrian Opposition Delegation Is Given Diplomatic Status Syrian Opposition Delegation Is Given Diplomatic Status
(4 months later)
WASHINGTON — As a delegation of Syrian opposition leaders arrived in Washington to plead for more American support, the Obama administration on Monday granted the group diplomatic status and pledged an additional $27 million in nonlethal assistance. WASHINGTON — As a delegation of Syrian opposition leaders arrived in Washington to plead for more American support, the Obama administration on Monday granted the group diplomatic status and pledged an additional $27 million in nonlethal assistance.
The moves, announced by the State Department, are calculated to bolster the opposition’s prestige at a time when President Bashar al-Assad’s government has made military gains, though the changes do not reverse the White House’s longstanding reluctance to get more deeply involved in the conflict.The moves, announced by the State Department, are calculated to bolster the opposition’s prestige at a time when President Bashar al-Assad’s government has made military gains, though the changes do not reverse the White House’s longstanding reluctance to get more deeply involved in the conflict.
As a practical matter, the decision confers foreign mission status on the Syrian opposition’s offices in Washington and New York — a step short of full diplomatic status. That will make it easier for the United States to provide security and to expedite banking transfers.As a practical matter, the decision confers foreign mission status on the Syrian opposition’s offices in Washington and New York — a step short of full diplomatic status. That will make it easier for the United States to provide security and to expedite banking transfers.
Symbolically, the administration said, the new status underlines American support for the moderate opposition, which has lately seemed to have been marginalized in the ferocious battle between Mr. Assad’s forces and extremist groups, some with links to Al Qaeda.Symbolically, the administration said, the new status underlines American support for the moderate opposition, which has lately seemed to have been marginalized in the ferocious battle between Mr. Assad’s forces and extremist groups, some with links to Al Qaeda.
The delegation, led by Ahmad Assi al-Jarba, the coalition’s president, is scheduled to meet Secretary of State John Kerry as well as officials at the Treasury and the National Security Council. The White House did not say whether President Obama would meet the group.The delegation, led by Ahmad Assi al-Jarba, the coalition’s president, is scheduled to meet Secretary of State John Kerry as well as officials at the Treasury and the National Security Council. The White House did not say whether President Obama would meet the group.
A meeting with Mr. Obama would be critical for more robust American support, analysts said, because he remains deeply skeptical of greater American military involvement in Syria’s three-year-old civil war.A meeting with Mr. Obama would be critical for more robust American support, analysts said, because he remains deeply skeptical of greater American military involvement in Syria’s three-year-old civil war.
In recent weeks, Syrian rebels obtained American-made antitank missiles, though they appear to have been supplied by a third country. It was the first time that American heavy weaponry had flowed to the rebels.In recent weeks, Syrian rebels obtained American-made antitank missiles, though they appear to have been supplied by a third country. It was the first time that American heavy weaponry had flowed to the rebels.
Rebel commanders have long appealed for antiaircraft weapons, saying they need them to shoot down the regime’s aircraft; Mr. Jarba is expected to renew that appeal this week. But the United States has resisted that because of the fear that the weapons could fall into the hands of extremists.Rebel commanders have long appealed for antiaircraft weapons, saying they need them to shoot down the regime’s aircraft; Mr. Jarba is expected to renew that appeal this week. But the United States has resisted that because of the fear that the weapons could fall into the hands of extremists.
Granting the opposition formal status, a senior administration official said, does not make it easier, as a legal matter, for the United States to supply lethal aid to the rebels. But it does bolster their credibility in requesting help from the United States or other countries.Granting the opposition formal status, a senior administration official said, does not make it easier, as a legal matter, for the United States to supply lethal aid to the rebels. But it does bolster their credibility in requesting help from the United States or other countries.