Germany and France agree to work with Syrian rebels on ‘basis of fundamental human rights’
Western capitals are debating how to engage with the Syrian rebels, who are led by a group that is a designated terrorist organization.
By Sasha Schroeder
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to work with the Syrian opposition groups that took power in Damascus “on the basis of fundamental human rights and the protection of ethnic and religious minorities,” Berlin said in a statement Monday.
The decision came during a phone call the French and German leaders held Monday. It comes after rebel forces ousted dictator Bashar Assad and took control of Syria on Sunday, following 13 years of bloody civil war in which over half a million people were killed.
Western capitals are debating how to engage with the Syrian rebels, who are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the U.S. and U.K. have designated as a terrorist organization. HTS and its leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani were previously affiliated with al Qaeda, but cut ties with the group in 2016. Since then, al-Golani has attempted to portray his group as more moderate.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday it was “far too early” to discuss reviewing HTS’ terror designation.
But the U.K. and several countries across the European Union — including France and Germany — have stopped processing Syrian asylum applications in the wake of the weekend’s events. Austria announced it would start sending migrants back to Syria.
Per the German government statement released Monday, Scholz and Macron said they welcomed the end of Assad’s rule, noting the dictator “had caused terrible suffering to the Syrian people and great damage to his country,” and emphasized the importance of preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The statement also said Scholz and Macron had agreed to work together to strengthen EU engagement with Syria and support an inclusive political process in the country.
Western capitals are debating how to engage with the Syrian rebels, who are led by a group that is a designated terrorist organization.
By Sasha Schroeder
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to work with the Syrian opposition groups that took power in Damascus “on the basis of fundamental human rights and the protection of ethnic and religious minorities,” Berlin said in a statement Monday.
The decision came during a phone call the French and German leaders held Monday. It comes after rebel forces ousted dictator Bashar Assad and took control of Syria on Sunday, following 13 years of bloody civil war in which over half a million people were killed.
Western capitals are debating how to engage with the Syrian rebels, who are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the U.S. and U.K. have designated as a terrorist organization. HTS and its leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani were previously affiliated with al Qaeda, but cut ties with the group in 2016. Since then, al-Golani has attempted to portray his group as more moderate.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday it was “far too early” to discuss reviewing HTS’ terror designation.
But the U.K. and several countries across the European Union — including France and Germany — have stopped processing Syrian asylum applications in the wake of the weekend’s events. Austria announced it would start sending migrants back to Syria.
Per the German government statement released Monday, Scholz and Macron said they welcomed the end of Assad’s rule, noting the dictator “had caused terrible suffering to the Syrian people and great damage to his country,” and emphasized the importance of preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The statement also said Scholz and Macron had agreed to work together to strengthen EU engagement with Syria and support an inclusive political process in the country.
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