Syrian envoy rejects reports that Masrour Barzani is on country's terror list

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A senior Syrian diplomat on Friday rejected a report from late December that stated his government had designated the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor Masrour Barzani as a supporter of terrorism.

The remarks of Syrian Ambassador to Iraq Sattam al-Dandeh came during his visit to Erbil to participate in events to mark celebrations for Newroz, the Kurdish New Year.

The report in question, released by the pro-Syrian Al Akhbar outlet, claimed to have obtained a list of "Financial Supporters of Terrorism" and that Barzani, along with other notable regional figures, was among the names. The initial reporting came from the state-run SANA but did not include any names. 

In a response published on its official Facebook page at the time, the KRSC said it was "ironic that a chauvinist, repressive, and hostile regime who is against the Kurds and has supported terrorists to ensure they remain in power is now talking about terrorism."

When asked about the issue during the Newroz observance, Dandeh indicated to Kurdistan 24 that no individual names were included on the list of terrorism supporters and that "the report was not issued… by the Syrian government."

In mid-March, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) called for negotiations between the Syrian government and the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to find a political solution within a united Syria as the government retakes territory previously controlled by the Islamic State. Kurdish-led forces currently maintain control over their de-facto autonomous regions in the north and northeast of the country.

The Syrian diplomat also said that Damascus was considering opening a consulate in Erbil "but not for the time being," stressing that his country's intentions to do so were serious. 

Editing by John J. Catherine