Syria will have a new government as of 1 March, the country’s interim foreign minister announced earlier
Multiple Western and Arab countries pledged to help rebuild Syria during a conference in Paris on Thursday.
The goal of the conference organised by the French government is to facilitate Syria’s political transition following the fall of longtime president Bashar al-Assad.
The Paris Conference is the third of its kind, after meetings in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, since the fall of Assad’s regime.
One of the main outcomes of Thursday’s conference is the signing of a declaration that states the group of nations wants to work together to ensure “the success of the post-Assad transition in the framework of a process that must be Syrian-led.”
Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, multiple European nations such as France, Germany, Italy, Greece, and G7 members Canada and Japan signed the declaration.
Although a US representative did attend the conference, the US did not sign the declaration.
Fight against terrorism “a priority” for Macron
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also confirmed the EU was working towards a “rapid lifting” of the sanctions adopted against the Assad regime.
“These sanctions can no longer constitute an obstacle to the recovery and reconstruction of Syria,” said Jean-Noel. Barrot.
The statement also pledged to support the new Syrian government to “fight against all forms of extremism and terrorism and to prevent the resurgence of terrorist organizations on Syrian soil.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier on Thursday that the fight against terrorist organisations still active in the region such as the Islamic State was an absolute priority.
He called on the transitional authorities to join this fight with the international coalition.
Syria’s interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is a former rebel from a group linked to the terrorist organisation al-Qaida.
Al-Sharaa has sought to reassure the international community that he has broken with his jihadist past.
The final declaration also emphasises the need for a transition that represents “all sectors of the Syrian society as well as members of the Syrian diaspora abroad.”
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani reassured the conference attendees on Thursday that the new Syrian government, planned for March 1, would reflect “the diversity” of the country.
ADVERTISEMENTBarrot also announced that international donors have decided to set up a working group under “the auspices of the UN to coordinate” relief efforts for Syria. France has pledged €50 million in aid to Syria in 2025.
