The objective of the four diplomats sent to Syria will be in particular to “retake possession of our rights on site”announced this Sunday the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot.
A French diplomatic mission will visit Damascus, Syria, on Tuesday for the first time in 12 years, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Sunday on France Inter. The objective of the four diplomats sent to Syria will be to “retake possession of our rights on site”, “establish first contacts” with the new authorities and “measure the urgent needs of the population” on a humanitarian level, he said.
It will also be about “check if the declarations of this rather encouraging new authority which called for calm, which apparently did not engage in abuses, are actually followed up on the ground”. Jean-Noël Barrot went to Aqaba, Jordan, on Saturday to meet American, European, Arab and Turkish officials on the subject of the transition in Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, ousted on December 8 by Islamist rebels .
Following an 11-day offensive, a coalition of rebel factions led by the radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured much of the country from government forces, ending half a century of power of the Assad family. The new prime minister in charge of the transition until March 1, Mohammad al-Bashir, promised a rule of law and “guarantee the rights of all”in the face of concerns from the international community.
“No naivety”
The Aqaba meeting made it possible to establish the conditions under which the international community can engage in dialogue with the new masters of the country, namely the “respect for minorities”, “human rights”, “women’s rights”the fact that“no abuse (is) acceptable”, “the fight against Daesh and terrorism”affirmed Mr. Barrot. “We have no naivety towards the new authorities in Damascus, we know the past of some of these Islamist groups”he continued, explaining that France will follow the period which is opening “with great vigilance”.
“In terms of security, the guns must be silenced and the terrorist threat which remains very present must be contained”he said. “On the political level, the de facto authorities must give way to a transitional authority which is representative of all the confessions and communities of Syria and which can gradually move Syria towards a new Constitution and ultimately towards elections”added the minister. Finally, he clarified, “we are mobilizing unconditionally for humanitarian aid which must continue to reach Syrians who need it”the conflict having caused significant “population displacements”.
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