the head of French diplomacy calls from Damascus for a “political solution” with the Kurds

The head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, called on Friday from Damascus the new Syrian power to “political solution” with the Kurds controlling a large part of the northeast of the country. “A political solution must be found with France’s allies, the Kurds so that they are fully integrated into this political process which is underway today”declared the minister during a meeting with representatives of civil society.

The French minister and his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock met the new Syrian Islamist leader Ahmad al-Chareh, during a visit to Damascus during which they insisted on the need for a peaceful and inclusive transition. This is the first meeting at this level between officials of the major Western powers and Ahmad al-Chareh, who took power on December 8, after the flight of President Bashar al-Assad.

On the eve of his visit, Jean-Noël Barrot had an interview with the head of Syrian Democratic Forces (FDS, dominated by the Kurds), Mazloum Abdi, indicated the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “They discussed the ongoing transition in Syria, recalling the importance of democratic governance where each of the components of the Syrian nation will be fully recognized and represented” he clarified.

“Proceed with the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles”

The head of French diplomacy also called for the destruction of chemical weapons stocks created by the power of Bashar al-Assad. “A sovereign and secure Syria leaves no room for the proliferation and dissemination of weapons of mass destruction and chemical weapons of the criminal regime of Bashar al-Assad”declared Jean-Noël Barrot. He added that he would ask the new authorities to “appeal without delay to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)”in order to “proceed with the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles”.

Referring to the political transition, he affirmed that Paris was going to offer the new authorities its “legal expertise” and that of the European Union for “accompany the Syrians » in the drafting of a new Constitution. The new authorities froze the Constitution and Chareh declared at the end of December that the development of a new text could take “two or three years” in an interview with the al-Arabiya channel. The minister also affirmed that Paris would propose its «expertise technique» pour “contribute to the fight against impunity and to transitional justice, as we have already begun to do for a number of years” .