The German government stated that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron are willing to cooperate with the Syrian opposition as long as they respect basic human rights and commit to protecting religious and ethnic minorities. The decision was made during a phone call between the leaders of France and Germany on Monday, December 9.
Prior to this, the Syrian opposition overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad on Sunday and took control of Syria, ending the bloody 13-year civil war that resulted in over 500,000 deaths.
Germany and France, as the two largest countries in the European Union, both welcomed Assad’s removal. According to a statement released by the German government on Monday night, Scholz and Macron emphasized the importance of maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity and security, stating that Assad had brought “terrible suffering to the Syrian people and inflicted enormous damage upon his country.”
The statement further indicated that the two leaders are prepared to cooperate with the new rulers based on respecting basic human rights and protecting religious and ethnic minorities.
At the time of the statement’s release, governments around the world were scrambling to establish new contacts with the main Syrian opposition force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS had previously been aligned with al Qaeda and designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, Turkey, and the United Nations. However, in 2016, HTS severed ties with al Qaeda and gradually portrayed a more moderate image.
The statement mentioned that Scholz and Macron agreed to work together to enhance the EU’s involvement in Syria, including supporting Syria’s inclusive political process and closely coordinating with partners in the Middle East to discuss the way forward.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Monday that it is “too early” to discuss reviewing the terrorist designation of HTS. Nevertheless, Starmer also welcomed the end of Assad’s “barbaric regime” in Syria and called for the restoration of “peace and stability.”