It will therefore be France. For his first visit to Europe since he took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Charaa, will be received in Paris, Wednesday, May 7, by Emmanuel Macron.
The French President “Will redirect France’s support for the construction of a new Syria, a free, stable, sovereign Syria, respectful of all the components of Syrian society”said the Elysée on Tuesday at the France-Presse agency (AFP).
“This meeting is a continuation of France’s historical commitment to the Syrians who aspire to peace and democracy”added the French presidency, ensuring that Emmanuel Macron would recall “Its requirements vis-à-vis the Syrian government, at the forefront of which the stabilization of the region and in particular Lebanon, as well as the fight against terrorism”.
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The French head of state had invited, in early February, the Syrian transition leader to go to France. He then had conditioned at the end of March this invitation to the formation of a Syrian government inclusive of “All the components of civil society” and guarantees on the security of the country, while judging “Completely positive” His first discussions in this sense.
Reassure the international community
Since she took power in December, the Islamist coalition that governs Syria, led by Ahmed al-Charaa, has been trying to present a reassuring face, especially with regard to the international community, which urges her to respect freedoms and protect minorities. At stake, the lifting of the sanctions imposed in power of Bashar al-Assad.
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But massacres that left 1,700 deaths, mostly alawite, in the west of the country in March, recent fights with Druzes, and abuses documented by NGOs raise doubts about the ability of new authorities to control certain extremist fighters which are affiliated to them.
At the same time, Israel recently intensified its strikes in neighboring Syria, one of which targeted, on Friday, a sector close to the presidential palace of Damascus. Israel spoke of a “Clear message sent to the Syrian regime” After the attacks on the Druze minority, for which Israeli leaders took up the cause.
But the Syrian presidency, which is committed to protecting all communities, denounced a “Dangerous escalation”while the UN called on Saturday Israel to stop ” immediately ” his attacks in Syria.
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