Emmanuel Macron asks the Syrian chief Ahmed al-Charaa to guard “all Syrians without exception” | EUROtoday

Emmanuel Macron welcomed, Wednesday, May 7 on the Elysée, the appearing Syrian president, Ahmed al-Charaa, for his first go to, controversial, in Europe, since he took energy after the autumn of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

The French president requested his visitor, throughout a standard press convention, to “Do everything to ensure the protection of all Syrians without exception, whatever their origin, their religion, their confession, their opinions”.

Emmanuel Macron additionally informed him that he ought to “Make sure the authors” latest interconfessional violence aimed toward druze and “Massacres” of members of the Alaouite minority are “Pursued and judged”. He additionally pleaded for the European Union “Systematically sanction the authors of these crimes”.

The Head of State additionally stated he was favorable to a continuation of “The gradual lifting of European economic sanctions” If the Islamist coalition in energy in Syria stabilizes its nation. He additionally known as the United States to “To rush to raise sanctions” in opposition to Syria, “With requirements”and at ” maintain “ Their navy operations in opposition to the Islamic State group within the nation.

“Bad practice”

Emmanuel Macron additionally certified the Israeli strikes in Syria as “Bad practice”choose that they won’t assure “Over the long term the security of Israel”. “We do not provide the security of his country by violating the territorial integrity of his neighbors”he stated.

Syrians security is “The first priority”stated Ahmed al-Charaa, whereas calling for the lifting of sanctions in opposition to Syria. “Nothing justifies that they are maintained, because they are sanctions today imposed on the people and not to the one who massacred this people”he argued. He additionally identified that the sanctions constituted “An obstacle” for the event of his nation. “We talked about it at length with President Macron today”he stated, including that the French head of state had “Show understanding”.

“There are a number of technical points that we will have to approach (…). In any case, we have the hope that this will provide positive responses to the Syrians ”continued Ahmad al-Charaa. “President Macron stated he was going to do the whole lot in his energy to take away the sanctions imposed on the Syrian individuals”he also stressed.

“Indirect discussions” with Israel

Asked about the fate of foreign jihadists present on Syrian soil, Ahmad al-Charaa assured that these fighters “Would respect the legislation” And “Would not represent threats in opposition to their international locations of origin”. He also mentioned the possibility of their “Naturalization” if the ” phrases “ are gathered, noting that “Many of them married Syrian girls and had youngsters”.

“This is a query that should be resolved in a worthy means for all those that fought alongside us and alongside the Syrian individuals”he added. The Syrian president has also confirmed “Indirect discussions” with Israel “Through mediators (…) To comprise the present state of affairs “. For his part, Emmanuel Macron called on the United States on Wednesday to “To rush to lift sanctions” against Syria, “With necessities”and at ” keep “ Their military operations against the Islamic State group in this country.

The French presidency sweeps all “naivety”

Seventeen years after the last visit of a Syrian president at the Elysée-Bashar al-Assad was invited in 2008 by Nicolas Sarkozy to attend the parade of July 14-, this invitation from Ahmed al-Charaa aimed to act the restoration of Franco-Syrian relations. Emmanuel Macron hopes to help accompany the transition to the right track to “A free, secure, sovereign Syria respectful of all of the elements of Syrian society”said the Elysée at the Agency France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday.

Massacres that left 1,700 dead, especially alawites, in the west of the country in March, fights with druze, and abuses documented by NGOs have raised doubts about the ability of the authorities to control extremist fighters which are affiliated to them.

Upstream of this visit, the French presidency had swept away any “Naiveness”by ensuring knowing “The previous” of some Syrian leaders and demand that there are “No complacency” with them “Terrorist actions”. The Elysée also mentioned the “Particular concern” of France of “See resurfaces interconfessional confrontations”.

Again on Wednesday, government spokesperson Sophie Primas argued that a dialogue with Ahmed al-Charaa was ahead “Part of our duty” and went “In the curiosity of France, and the European Union”. However, this dialogue “Is not a deposit of this authorities”she assured during the report of the Council of Ministers.

An invitation criticized by the right and the extreme right

Emmanuel Macron was strongly criticized by the French right and extreme right for the invitation made to this former jihadist. “Stupor and dismay”reacted the head of the national rally, Marine Le Pen, describing the Syrian president as “A jihadist handed by Daesh [acronyme arabe de l’organisation Etat islamique] and al-Qaeda “. “The purple carpet of the Elysée may have the colour of the blood of the victims of Islamist terrorism”added his ally Eric Ciotti on Wednesday on RTL.

“We don’t obtain leaders who’re former terrorists members of organizations who need to assault France”also said on CNews and Europe 1 the head of deputies Les Républicains, Laurent Wauquiez, denouncing “A heavy error”.

“Do not provoke dialogue with these transitional authorities(…) It can be irresponsible in direction of the French and particularly it might be purple carpet for Daesh »for his half estimated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, on RTL. According to the tenant of the Quai d’Orsay, “The fight against terrorism, the mastery of migratory flows, the mastery of drug trafficking”in addition to “The future of Lebanon” neighbor, “All that is performed in Syria”.

Since she took energy, the Islamist coalition led by Ahmed al-Charaa has been attempting to current a reassuring face to the worldwide group, which urges her to respect freedoms and shield minorities. In play, the lifting of the sanctions imposed within the energy of Bashar al-Assad, which weigh closely on the nation’s economic system, exsangue after fourteen years of civil battle, with, in keeping with the UN, 90 % of Syrians dwelling beneath the poverty line.

Ahmed al-Charaa, lengthy chief of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Cham, from the ex-branch of Al-Qaida in Syria, is itself at all times focused by a ban on the UN journey. Paris needed to request an exemption from the United Nations to permit its arrival.