US says no entity in Syria is currently recognised as a government

The US said this week that no entity in Syria is recognised as a government, with a US State Department spokesperson adding that an ‘administrative procedure’ is currently underway, relating to the changing of the legal status of a Syrian mission to the UN to a mission of a government not recognised by the US.

The spokesperson reiterated in a statement that there have not been any changes to the privileges of accredited members of the Syrian Permanent Mission to the UN.

The measure has been taken following an administrative decision based on current US policy; the spokesperson told Al-Jazeera.

The official Syrian SANA news agency quoted an official source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry as saying that the step to change the legal status of the Syrian mission in New York is purely technical and administrative, and does not reflect any change in the position towards the new government.

This comes as UN authorities further reduced visas for members of the Syrian mission from G1 for diplomats accredited to the UN to G3, which is granted to foreign nationals representing a government at the UN that is not recognised by the US.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commented on the change, saying Syria’s status as a member state at the UN has not changed and confirmed it will not affect its representation within the UN.

He further said that the state of any country’s membership is subject to the UN Charter and has nothing to do with the issue of a country’s recognition of a particular country’s government.

Syria's new government

Meanwhile, Tammy Bruce, the US State Department spokeswoman, said she hopes the formation of the transitional government in Syria will be a step forward in building an inclusive and representative state.

In a press conference held on Tuesday evening, she added that it was vital in helping achieve the aspirations of Syrians for a better future.

"We expect the Syrian government to abide by human rights laws and to aide to general laws that define what it means to be a good government," she stated.

"We are waiting to see more action on their part, obviously there are expectations that have not yet been met, and we are waiting for what they will do," she added.

Since Ahmad al-Sharaa was appointed President in Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, he has urged Western nations to lift sanctions on Syria and recognise the new government, which he reiterated will be inclusive of all minorities.

Last month, the UK government announced it lifted asset freezes on 24 Syrian entities and is committed to helping Syrians rebuild their economy and country following years of war.

"We are lifting asset freezes on 24 Syrian entities that were previously used by the Assad regime to fund the oppression of the Syrian people, including the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Arab Airlines, and energy companies".

"At the same time, sanctions on members of the Assad regime and those involved in the illicit trade in captagon remain in place," the Foreign Office announced in a statement.