2024-12-17 01:22:00
The European Union is gradually starting to loosen up towards the new Syrian authorities. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the country’s future, this Monday the Foreign Ministers of the Twenty-Seven discussed for the first time how to act. For now, the highest representative of community diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, has decided to send an EU representative to measure the temperature.
“I have instructed the main European diplomat in Syria to go to Damascus to establish contacts with the new government,” announced Borrell’s successor, who chaired the first meeting on Monday with the foreign ministers of the United States and the United Kingdom also initiated these preliminary contacts.
The rebel group Hayat Tharir al Sham (HTS) which carried out the devastating offensiveagainst the dictator Bashar al Assad, has in the past been linked to terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda or the Islamic State. Both the US, UK and EU consider HTS to be a terrorist organisation. Despite this, the moderation shown in recent times means that the Twenty-Seven are considering giving the new Syrian leaders a chance.
A vote of confidenceIt’s not a blank check.“We want the facts to go in the right direction. So (we will analyze)NO“Not just what they say, but also what they do,” Kayas said. “Everyone wants to avoid mistakes in Libyaand Afghanistan”, the High Representative also recognized after the debate of the Twenty-Seven.
Among these facts, the highest representative asks the new authorities in Damascus to respect minorities such as Christians, Kurds or Alawites and the rights ofwomen, as well as breaking ties with Russia and Iran. In this sense, Kallas is confident that regional actors, such as Arab countries, can push for the future government to include minorities.The High Representative traveled to Jordan last weekend, where powers such as Turkey, the United States and Arab countries met to address the country’s future.
“This process must be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned and reflect the Syrian people in all their diversity. Extremism, Russia and Iran must have no place in the Syrian future,” the former Estonian prime minister assured. Of particular concern for the EU is the fact that Moscow maintains the Hmeimim air base and the Tartus naval facility in the country. Several European countries demanded during the meeting that the new Syrian leaders put an end to these bases, as from there Russia extends its tentacles into Africa. As Kallas explained, the issue will continue to be discussed in meetings later and also worries regional players.
Spain is one of the European countries that wants to know firsthand what is happening in the country. As announced by Foreign Minister José Manual Albares, the government intends to return the Spanish charge d’affaires, who is temporarily in Lebanon, to Damascus this week and will appoint a special envoy to reinforce the embassy in Damascus. “These new contacts are obviously clear, very preliminary and above all they are contacts to transmit clear red lines,” Albares assured.
One of the debates that will arise in the coming months is whetherThe European Union will lift the sanctions it maintains against the country and which concern 318 people (who are banned from entering European territory and whose assets have been frozen) and 86 entities. The first punishments were imposed in 2011 and on 25 November this year three more people were added.These sanctions are intended not to harm the Syrian people. Indeed, they do not prevent the provision of humanitarian aid or prohibit the export of food, medicines or medical equipment.
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