German and French government officials are meeting Syria’s new rulers, 24 hours after British diplomats met Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS).
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted on Dec. 8 and a rebel alliance led by HTS took the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Although HTS—which began as an offshoot of al-Qaeda—remains a designated terrorist group by the United States and most other Western governments, its leader has sought to play down its Islamist roots and reach out to Syria’s Christian and Kurdish minorities.
Al-Sharaa, who was formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has set up a transitional government and has also pledged to respect the rights of the Alawite minority, which dominated the Assad regime and is considered heretical by many Sunni Islamists.
The U.S. State Department said on Monday it had had more than one communication with HTS in the past week.
Russia’s parliament also passed a law on Tuesday that would allow Moscow to normalize relations with the HTS-dominated Syrian regime, as well as the Taliban in Afghanistan.
On Monday, the leader of Russia’s Muslim republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, called for the HTS to be removed from Russia’s list of banned terrorist groups.
Russia is keen on retaining control of a naval base at Tartus, and Hmeimim air base in nearby Latakia province, both of which it used to support the Assad regime during the height of the Syrian civil war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already offered sanctuary in Moscow to Assad and his family but may be negotiating a deal whereby Russia retains use of the military bases.
After years of being propped up by Russia and Iran, Syria is now set to turn to the West for economic and political support.
HTS Wants Sanctions Eased
SANA said al-Sharaa stressed the need to lift sanctions that were imposed on Syria when Assad was in charge and resume trading with the rest of the world, so the economy can recover and around 6 million Syrians who fled abroad since 2011 can return to their homeland.The news agency said al-Sharaa “spoke about the need to build a state of law and institutions, and establishing security.”
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The fall of the horrific Assad regime provides a once-in-a-generation chance for the people of Syria. We’re committed to supporting the Syrian people as they chart a new course.
“First, by providing £50 million [$63.5 million] in new food, healthcare and aid to support the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Syrians. Second, by working diplomatically to help secure better governance in Syria’s future.”
The German foreign ministry said its diplomats were also planning talks with the new Syrian leadership.
A German foreign ministry spokesman said, “The possibilities of a diplomatic presence in Damascus are also being explored there.”
Referring to the extremist Islamist roots of HTS, the spokesman said, “As far as one can tell, they have acted prudently so far.”
At least a million Syrians who fled abroad when the civil war broke out in 2011 are currently living in Germany, and Berlin is keen to repatriate those who want to go home.
French diplomats were also expected to visit Damascus on Tuesday.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the European Union should be ready to ease sanctions on Syria if the country’s new leadership takes “positive steps” to set up an inclusive government and respect the rights of religious minorities and women.
