The various capitals of the world, initially cautious, are increasing their efforts and announcements to establish contact with the new authorities in Syria, in particular the HTS group. This a week after the unexpected fall of Bashar al-Assad. While the UN sent its special envoy there, the European Union convened a Council bringing together the foreign ministers of its 27 member states for Monday, December 16, with Syria on the agenda for discussions.
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Going to Syriathe UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen marked the first visit by a senior UN official since the flight of Bashar al-Assad to Russia. He said he was in favor of lifting the economic sanctions weighing on Syria.
The UN official met with Abu Mouhammed al-Joulani, leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), at the head of the coalition of rebel groups that ousted Bashar al-Assad from power, the coalition announced on its Telegram channel. According to the same source, the two officials discussed “ changes that have occurred on the political scene, which make it necessary to update » of the Security Council resolution of theUN of 2015 establishing a road map for a political settlement in Syria. “ We must ensure that Syria receive immediate humanitarian aid increased for the population and for all refugees who wish to return “, Mr. Pedersen said earlier in the day.
We all know that Syria is going through a huge humanitarian crisis, so we must ensure that Syria receives increased immediate humanitarian assistance for the Syrian population and for all refugees who wish to return. Then, of course, there is the whole question of economic recovery. We must ensure that this is resolved quickly. We can hope to see a quick end to sanctions so that we can see real unity around rebuilding Syria. Obviously, the sanctions, and I have always said this, are not UN sanctions, they are sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union.
UN special envoy for Syria says ‘hopes to see a rapid end to sanctions’ imposed on Syria
Diplomatic contacts
Several countries and organizations which welcomed the fall of Bashar al-Assad say they are waiting to see how the new Sunni Muslim authorities will treat the minorities of the multi-ethnic and multi-religious country because the pedigree of the rebel coalition in power in Damascus led by the HTS group, a former Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda which claims to have broken with jihadism, worried. The group, however, remains classified “ terrorist » by several Western capitals, including Washington.
However, several countries announced that they had established contact with the new Syrian government. After the UNITED STATES Saturday December 15, the United Kingdom announced on Sunday that it had established “ diplomatic contacts » with HTS even though the Islamist group “ remains a banned terrorist organization ” At United Kingdomparadoxically declared British Foreign Minister David Lammy. “ But we can have diplomatic contacts “, he insisted.
For its part, the France announced the sending of a diplomatic mission on Tuesday December 17 to Damascus, the first in 12 years, to “ make first contacts » with the new authorities.
THE Qatar announced the reopening of its embassy in Syria on Tuesday. This after the arrival on Sunday December 15 of a delegation from Doha in the country, where it met the new authorities.
There Türkiyea major player in the conflict in Syria and support of the new authorities, had already reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday after more than 12 years of closure. She said to herself “ ready » to provide military aid if the new Syrian government asks it, according to its Defense Minister Yasar Güler. He further asserted that the new authorities were committed to “ respect all government institutions, the UN and other international organizations “, and promised to report any traces of chemical weapons to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
“We’re going to have to find a way to talk to HTS »
After 50 years of unchallenged rule by the Assad clan and relentless repression, the new authorities are working to reassure the international community but are still struggling to convince. The new Prime Minister in charge of the transition Mohammad al-Bashir promised to “ guarantee the rights of all “, as Syrians try to resume their normal lives. This is not enough to convince everyone, notably the European Union, which has no longer had official relations with Syria since May 2011 and the violent repression of demonstrations by Bashar al-Assad. European economic sanctions also target Syria.
This subject will also appear on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council which brings together European Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Monday, December 16, in Brussels. For the moment, the European position on the Syrian issue is above all a reminder of major principles. Through the voice of its new High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, or through that of the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyenthe EU has been expressing for a week its attachment to a democratic, peaceful and inclusive Syrian transition, reports our correspondent in Brussels, Jean-Jacques Héry. “Owe are waiting to see how the new authorities in Damascus act », summarized a senior European official on Friday. The latter mentioned the HTS, the new master of Damascus but classified as a terrorist organization by the UN, and as such hit by European sanctions.
For Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East program at the European Council on International Relations, this European wait-and-see attitude does not help either Syria or the EU: “ There are several things to do if we want to push politically for a Syrian-led political transition process with UN support. Allow the economic situation to improve, for example, by lifting sanctions in some key sectors. HTS is now the dominant force there, we’re going to have to find a way to talk to them. »
This weekend, the new head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas considered any lifting of sanctions premature. But after the announcement of many other powers, the EU says it wants to get in touch “ Soon » with the new Syrian authorities, at a level « operational » and not “ policy “. Furthermore, always with the same caution.
The European Union convenes a Foreign Affairs Council, with Syria on the agenda for discussions
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