Former U.S. ambassador to Syria : U.S. Embassy closure a sign of the situation . Edward P. Djerejian : Bashar al - Islam could have led a serious reform process in Syria . He says regime hunkered down and is violently repressing its own citizens . With the death toll mounting and the failure of the Arab League initiative , the Syrian issue was referred to the U.N. Security Council in an effort to put international pressure on the Syrian regime to respond positively to the requirements of the Arab League initiative . Djerejian : The community should work to end killing and promote political transition .
Former U.S. ambassador to Syria : U.S. Embassy closure a sign of the situation . Edward P. Djerejian : Bashar al - Islam could have led a serious reform process in Syria . He says regime hunkered down and is violently repressing its own citizens . Djerejian : The community should work to end killing and promote political transition .