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Paris Reveals Details of Al-Jolani Meeting.. Confirms Rejection of Foreign Interventions
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France seeks to establish a pluralistic system of governance in Syria that ensures participation of all components, enhancing regional stability and limiting foreign influence
French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot revealed on Sunday details of his meeting with the current commander of the so-called Military Operations Administration, Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, in his first statement following his diplomatic visit to the country on Friday.
In an interview with French station "RTL" on Sunday, Barrot responded to a question about classifying Al-Jolani as an "Islamist" and how Paris deals with him on this basis, saying "I am aware of Ahmad Al-Shara's past and the groups that worked to overthrow Assad's regime," but added "however, in the new Syria that is now being reborn, there should be no place for Islamic terrorism, we fought this terrorism in Syria for 10 years".
The French official emphasized the importance of "not allowing any foreign power to exploit the fall of President Bashar Al-Assad's rule to weaken Syria," adding "Syria needs help, but it is essential that no foreign power comes in, as Russia and Iran did for a long time under the pretext of supporting the authorities or supporting Syria".
The French minister explained that during discussions with the new Syrian administration's leadership in Damascus, he received "assurances about establishing a committee to ban chemical weapons that will work on monitoring and destroying the chemical weapons stockpile belonging to Bashar Al-Assad's regime."
Regarding a question about classifying the new Syrian regime, Barrot explained "We want a future for Syria that guarantees representation for all spectrums of the country, and this is crucial for ensuring Syria's stability and the interest of the country and the region".
Bloomberg reported that the European Union has intensified its efforts to establish links with the new Syrian leadership and convince it to reduce Russian influence in the war-torn country through visits by the German Foreign Minister and her French counterpart to Damascus.
Upon arriving in the Syrian capital, the German Foreign Ministry published a statement by Minister Baerbock, indicating that the visit with her French counterpart "on behalf of the European Union, is a clear signal that a new political beginning between Europe and Syria, and between Germany and Syria, is possible".
The statement added "Decades of oppression and atrocities committed by the Assad regime and the terrible civil war he waged have inflicted enormous wounds on millions of people in Syria. An entire country has been scarred by this, and at the same time, it now derives legitimate hope that the future will be better".
Levant-Agencies
