France and Germany have kicked off the first high-level diplomatic meetings between European Union member states and Syria’s new leaders. Today, the foreign ministers of Paris and Berlin respectively Jean-Noel Barrot e Annalena Bärbockthey went to Damascus, where they were received by Ahmed Al Sharaa (better known by his nom de guerre Abou Mohammed al Jolani), commander in chief of the new Syrian administration as well as leader of the jihadist-inspired group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (Hts), which led the offensive against the regime of Bachar al-Assadwhich fell on December 8. The High Representative for EU Foreign and Security Policy, Kaja Kalla, he pointed out on X that Baerbock and Barrot had gone to Damascus “to represent the European Union”. “Our message to Syria’s new leaders: respecting the principles agreed with regional actors and ensuring the protection of all civilians and minorities is of the utmost importance,” Kallas said.
Before traveling to the Syrian capital, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that “France and Germany stand alongside the Syrian people, in all their diversity”. In a message published on X, Barrot confirmed his support for “a peaceful transition in Syria, in the interest of Syrians and regional stability.” The German minister, for her part, declared, still on social networks, that “decades of oppression, the atrocities of the Assad regime and its terrible civil war have left enormous wounds on millions of people in Syria “. An entire country, he observed, “is marked by it, but it now has the legitimate hope that the future can be better.”
Baerbock then stressed that “the painful chapter of Assad’s government is over” and that “a new chapter is open, even if it is not yet written.” At that time, he added, “Syrians have the opportunity to take back control of the destiny of their state.” In this regard, the German Foreign Minister confirmed his support “for an inclusive and peaceful transition of power, for the reconciliation of society and for reconstruction”. According to Bearbock, it will be “a road strewn with pitfalls”. “My trip with my French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot on behalf of the EU is a clear signal: a new political departure between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria is possible,” he said. added, stressing that “there could only be a new beginning if all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic or religious group, are given a place in the political process. » In this regard, on the sidelines of the meeting with Al Jolani, Baerbock clarified that the European Union wishes to participate in the reconstruction of Syria “but will not finance new Islamist structures”.
On the occasion of their visit to Damascus, the two European ministers visited Saidnaya prison, which has become the symbol of the repression of the Assad regime, accompanied by the Syrian Civil Defense, a humanitarian civil protection organization formed during the war. civilian, whose members are known as the White Helmets. The cells and basements of Saidnaya Prison have been the scene of executions, torture and enforced disappearances over the years. “When I see today what people went through in this hell, I realize the importance of your work,” Baerbock said, addressing the White Helmets. “It is now up to the international community to help, to bring justice to the people who suffered in this prison,” added the German minister. Barrot also visited the French embassy in Damascus, closed in 2012 due to the “bloody repression of the Bashar al Assad regime”, as the minister himself recalls. “In the coming weeks, depending on the evolution of security conditions, we will gradually prepare the modalities for reestablishing the French presence here in Damascus,” declared Mr. Barrot, reiterating that the hope is to be able to build a Syria “sovereign and stable”.
After the fall of the Assad regime and the establishment of the Syrian transitional government chaired by Mohammed al Bashir, Damascus saw numerous visits by delegations from countries in the region, but not only that. A few weeks ago, a United States diplomatic mission also visited Syria. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, Presidential Hostage Envoy Roger Carstens, and newly appointed Senior Advisor Daniel Rubinstein to lead the State Department’s effort in Syria, were the first American diplomats to meet with the leaders of the new Syrian administration, with the aim of discussing the vision for the country’s future and how Washington can help support it. To this day, the Hayat Tahrir al Sham group, at the head of the transitional government, is still designated as a terrorist organization by both the European Union and the United States, even though Washington has revoked the reward of around 10 million euros previously paid to leader Al Jolani. .
A few days after the talks with the American delegation, Al Jolani also received Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Damascus. During a joint conference after the meeting, Fidan recalled that “Turkey, a friendly country, has been alongside the Syrian people since the beginning of the revolution.” The Western community, he added, “should lift economic sanctions” against Syria. Furthermore, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs hoped that “an inclusive administration would be established by the decision of the Syrian people, without any ethnic or religious component being excluded”. Fidan and Al Jolani also discussed the fight against terrorist organizations in Syria, with the Turkish minister reiterating Ankara’s support. “We will not allow terrorists to take advantage of the situation,” warned the Turkish minister, referring to the Islamic State and the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian branch of the Kurdish group of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
As part of international contacts, the Syrian interim government yesterday sent a delegation to Saudi Arabia for its first official visit abroad. Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab visited Riyadh. “We aspire to open a new bright page in bilateral relations, worthy of our ancient history,” Al Shaibani said on the sidelines of the institutional visit, stressing that “the two countries have a lot in common.” The discussions in Riyadh focused in particular on the political transition process in Syria. “Saudi Arabia has confirmed its desire to participate in the rebirth of Syria and to support its unity and territorial integrity,” then explained the Damascus Minister of Foreign Affairs. Al Shaibani then thanked Riyadh for “the warm reception and welcome to the historic first visit of a delegation from the new Syria.”
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