US granting permits in rebel areas violates Syria sovereignty: Envoy
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The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations tells the UNSC that the United States granting work permits in certain parts of the country is in violation of its sovereignty.
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US occupation forces in Syria
The US government taking the decision to grant licenses for certain economic activities in the parts of Syria controlled by rebel and terrorist groups is in violation of the country's sovereignty, Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bassam Al-Sabbagh told Friday the UN Security Council.
"The recent decision by the US administration to grant a license for economic activities in specific areas in the northeastern and northwestern parts of Syria controlled by separatists militias and terrorist organizations represents direct support by the US administration to these entities and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and its independence," Al-Sabbagh said.
The majority of the terrorist and armed groups in Syria are backed or have been founded by the United States, such as the SDF militia that has been working closely with the US occupation forces in the country, in addition to the Kurdistan Workers' Party.
The US Treasury Department issued last week a General License that authorizes specific economic activities in the northeastern and northwestern areas of Syria.
The envoy stressed that the move taken by Washington was a "grave breach" of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions concerning Syria.
Al-Sabbagh also accused the United States of discriminating against the population in different parts of Syria.
Washington said it would allow some foreign investment in areas controlled by the US-backed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militias in Syria - namely the so-called People's Defense Units (YPG) - without facing sanctions.
Under the supposed pretext of fighting ISIS, the YPG has gained control over Syrian territory with the assistance of the US occupation, particularly in the northeast bordering Turkey and Iraq. The area contains some of the world's richest oil reserves, in addition to agricultural land and a bank of the Euphrates river.
Washington has imposed tough sanctions on Damascus in an attempt to isolate Syria from the international community; it has also flowed money into areas previously controlled by ISIS, evolving the northeast into US-occupied land - last year, according to Nuland, Washington spent $45 million in these areas, remarking that the funds are for "stabilization" activities.
