The European Union’s international coverage chief mentioned the primary indicators coming from Syria’s insurgent forces have been ‘good’ but it surely was ‘too early’ to problem a verdict.
The continuing transition of energy in Syria after the autumn of Bashar al-Assad shouldn’t descend into “revenge” and “retaliation” between opposing factions, Kaja Kallas has urged as she known as for the safety of minorities and freedom of faith.
“This can be a huge fear as a result of we all know in Syria there are such a lot of completely different teams,” Kallas mentioned on Tuesday night as she addressed a particular session of the European Parliament’s international affairs committee.
“The approaching weeks are positively essential to see if this goes in the correct route.”
In her first on-camera remarks for the reason that extraordinary occasions of the weekend, Kallas praised the Syrian individuals for his or her “historic achievement” and predicted the transition would current “enormous challenges” for the war-torn nation and your entire Center East.
Particularly, the Excessive Consultant, who took workplace earlier this month, pointed the finger at persistent dangers of sectarian violence, extremism, radicalisation, “weaponisation of faith” and terrorism, “all of which should be averted.”
“We should keep away from a repeat of the horrific eventualities of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan,” she mentioned.
“Secondly, the rights of all Syrians, together with these of many minority teams, should be protected. And thirdly, it’s essential to protect the territorial integrity of Syria and to respect its independence, its sovereignty, in addition to the state establishments,” she added.
Concerning engagement with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the insurgent power that led the offensive that toppled al-Assad’s dictatorial regime and has positioned itself as a number one actor within the new political period, Kallas walked a tightrope however admitted some progress.
HTS, whose identify means “Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant”, is an Islamist militant group that beforehand declared its allegiance to al-Qaeda earlier than breaking ties in 2016. Consequently, the UN and the EU listed HTS as a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Whereas HTS and its chief, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, have tried to achieve legitimacy by embracing pluralism and appointing a provisional prime minister, they continue to be affected by accusations of human rights abuses, together with alleged executions for blasphemy and adultery carried out underneath a strict interpretation of Islamic regulation.
Conscious of the fragile stability, Kallas mentioned HTS can be judged “not by their phrases however by their deeds” and cautioned it was “too early” to problem a verdict.
“The primary indicators are good however we’re not speeding into any type of association if we do not have certainty,” Kallas instructed MEPs. “It is vital that we preserve shut contacts with the regional actors and all of the worldwide actors to assist Syria construct a standard life.”
Because of the terrorist designation, EU officers can not have direct contact with HTS representatives. The USA, for instance, is counting on Turkey to cross on messages about its Syria coverage. Kallas didn’t make clear if she was doing the identical.
In latest days, Kallas has been in contact together with her counterparts in Morocco, Lebanon, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, amongst others.
One other query posed by MEPs that remained unanswered is whether or not the EU would conduct a speedy evaluate of the a number of sanctions it had imposed towards Assad’s regime, which embrace restrictions on weapons, oil, expertise and monetary transactions.
Barry Andrews, a liberal lawmaker, instructed the exemption underneath the sanctions that allows flows of humanitarian assist ought to be expanded as a primary step.
In the course of the hour-long session, the Excessive Consultant insisted it was “within the curiosity of everyone,” together with the EU and the Arab League, that Syria prospers within the post-Assad period and doesn’t fall into one other civil conflict or refugee disaster.
