The radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), spearhead of the offensive that brought down Bashar al-Assad, must implement “its positive messages” of unity on the ground, the envoy asked. UN special on Tuesday.
Former branch of al-Qaeda in Syria (Al-Nusra), an organization with which it broke in 2016, HTS is still classified as “terrorist” by Western chancelleries.
Nine years ago, a UN Security Council resolution included Al-Nusra on the list of terrorist organizations, recalled the UN envoy, Geir Pedersen, at a press conference: “it is a complicating factor.
“But we have to (…) see what has happened over the last nine years” and “the reality so far is that HTS and other armed groups have sent positive messages to the Syrian people,” he said. – he affirmed, emphasizing that it was now necessary to transform these words into actions on the ground.
Mr Pedersen, who is in contact with HTS, stressed that there was some looting and theft on Sunday, particularly in Damascus, “but that seems to have stopped” and “that is a good thing”.
Above all, “they sent messages of unity and inclusion and, frankly, we also saw reassuring things on the ground in Aleppo and Hama”, he assured, and affirmed that Abou Mohammad al- Jolani, head of HTS, himself mentioned in an interview with CNN that “they are discussing the possibility of dismantling HTS.”
But “we have to see what they say is implemented on the ground”, he insisted, and “the most important test will be the way in which the transition agreements in Damascus will be organized and implemented” .
“If we unite the different Syrian parties and communities, this could be the real start of something new for Syria”, with the support of the international community, and “we could then start to consider the lifting of sanctions”, he said. assured Mr. Pedersen.
– Israeli strikes –
The United States and European countries also said they would judge HTS on its actions, calling in particular for an “inclusive” government.
“If all the different groups and communities in Syria are given the opportunity to make a fresh start, I am convinced that the international community will look again at the listing of HTS (terrorist, Editor’s note), because it is “This is a real change,” assured Mr. Pedersen.
Bashar al-Assad, in power since 2000, was overthrown on Sunday by a lightning offensive by Islamist rebels after more than 13 years of a bloody civil conflict, triggered by the fierce repression of pro-democracy demonstrations, and which left more than one half a million dead.
The fall of the former Syrian president has opened a period of uncertainty in the country. And while humanitarian needs increase, the UN lacks funding: the appeal for funds for Syria of 4 billion euros is financed “less than a third”, indicated a spokesperson, Jens Laerke, in Geneva.
“Syria is today at a crossroads, with great opportunities, but also serious risks,” said Mr. Pedersen, stressing that “it is important that we do not witness a conflict” between the different armed groups.
Furthermore, the “strikes” and “Israeli movements on Syrian territory” must “stop”, judges the former Norwegian diplomat.
For several days, the Israeli army has been carrying out an incursion into the buffer zone on the edge of the occupied and annexed part of the Golan Heights. The Jewish state has confirmed that it has destroyed “chemical weapons” in Syria in recent days to prevent them from falling into the hands of the rebels.
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