“We are working with my European counterparts to bring about a rapid lifting of the sectoral economic sanctions adopted to isolate the Assad regime”, announced Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, on Thursday 13 February at the opening of the Paris Conference on Syria (see EUROPE 13566/4).
Stressing that the objective was to “see the emergence of a peaceful, reunified Syria reintegrated into its regional environment”, the minister called for a “comprehensive ceasefire throughout Syria, including in the north and north-east, and an end to foreign interference, including in the south”. Also keen to avoid “the risk of a resurgence of Daesh”, Mr Barrot pledged his support for the transitional Syrian authorities to achieve this.
A diverse Syrian society. The head of French diplomacy asked the foreign affairs minister of the transitional Syrian government, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, who was present at the conference, for “a clear and binding transition timetable”, hoping that the government to be formed on 1 March would reflect Syria’s diversity.
“For your partners, a successful transition is first and foremost one that integrates and values all the components of a diverse Syrian society”, he told Mr Al-Chibani. “We see the national dialogue that you have announced and which we hope will take place soon as an important signal, if it takes into account the aspirations of all Syrians, whatever their religion, language, community or gender”.
The minister also called for Bashar al-Assad’s regime’s chemical weapons to be prevented from spreading and for drug trafficking, particularly of Captagon, “a scourge for the region”, to be stopped.
As a matter of priority, the French minister felt that it was necessary to allow the rapid influx of humanitarian aid, which the Syrians still urgently need, but also to facilitate the financial and commercial flows necessary for the reconstruction of the country. This would require the lifting of certain sanctions. Mr Barrot gave assurances that the EU would also play its full part in the reconstruction efforts.
He also spoke of the need for Syrians to “heal their wounds” through the introduction of “restorative justice”.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, announced on X that the ninth Brussels Conference on Syria will be held on Monday 17 March. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)