French, German, and British Diplomats Contact the New Leaders of Syria
The leader of Russia’s Muslim republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, is advocating for the removal of Hayat Tahrir al-Shams from the list of banned terrorist groups.
German and French government officials are engaging with Syria’s new rulers, just 24 hours after British diplomats met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS).
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted on Dec. 8, and a rebel alliance led by HTS captured the Syrian capital, Damascus.
While HTS, originally an offshoot of al-Qaeda, remains designated as a terrorist group by the United States and most Western governments, its leader has been working to downplay its Islamist origins and reach out to Syria’s Christian and Kurdish minorities.
Al-Sharaa, previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has established a transitional government and vowed to respect the rights of the Alawite minority, which was predominant in the Assad regime and considered heretical by many Sunni Islamists.
The U.S. State Department has communicated with HTS multiple times in the past week.
On Tuesday, Russia’s parliament passed a law that would enable Moscow to normalize relations with the HTS-led Syrian regime, as well as with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Muslim republic of Chechnya, has called for the removal of HTS from Russia’s list of banned terrorist groups.
Russia is determined to maintain its naval base at Tartus and the Hmeimim air base in nearby Latakia province, both of which were used to assist the Assad regime during the Syrian civil war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered asylum in Moscow to Assad and his family, potentially negotiating an agreement where Russia can continue using these military bases.
After receiving support from Russia and Iran for years, Syria is now seeking economic and political support from the West.
HTS Wants Sanctions Eased
SANA said al-Sharaa emphasized the importance of lifting sanctions imposed on Syria during Assad’s rule, to facilitate economic recovery and the return of around 6 million Syrian refugees who fled abroad since 2011.
The news agency mentioned that al-Sharaa discussed the establishment of a state of law and institutions, along with ensuring security.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated, “The fall of the horrific Assad regime presents a unique opportunity for the people of Syria. We are committed to assisting the Syrian people as they navigate a new path.
“Our first step is to provide £50 million ($63.5 million) in new food, healthcare, and aid to address the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Syrians. In addition, we will diplomatically work towards establishing improved governance in Syria’s future.”
The German foreign ministry confirmed that its diplomats are also preparing for discussions with the new Syrian leadership.
A spokesperson mentioned, “The potential for establishing a diplomatic presence in Damascus is also under consideration.”
In reference to HTS’s extremist Islamist origins, the spokesperson commented, “From what we can discern, they have acted judiciously thus far.”
Currently, over a million Syrians who fled the civil war in 2011 are residing in Germany, and Berlin aims to assist those willing to return home.
French diplomats were also scheduled to visit Damascus on Tuesday.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested that the EU should be prepared to ease sanctions on Syria if the new leadership demonstrates positive steps towards establishing an inclusive government and upholding the rights of religious minorities and women.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
