Syria’s new transitional authorities says there is no such thing as a place for Russian presence in Syria per week after the nation’s long-time President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown. The brand new authorities additionally says it’s open to interact in contacts with all international locations to pave Syria’s new future.
The Spokesperson for the political division of Syria’s new transitional authorities has known as on Russia to rethink its presence within the nation now that their ally; President Bashar al-Assad, has been overthrown.
A convoy of Russian navy automobiles was noticed touring from the coastal metropolis of Latakia, and have been headed southward in the direction of the town of Tartus.
Russia operates two navy bases in Syria: The Khmeimim Air Base close to the port metropolis of Latakia and the Tartus naval base on the Mediterranean coast. They’re thought-about among the many Kremlin’s most strategically essential navy outposts.
The Tartus web site is especially essential, offering Russia with its solely direct entry to the Mediterranean Sea and a base to conduct naval workouts, station warships and even host nuclear submarines.
Western analysts and intelligence say the Kremlin is participating in a large-scale withdrawal from Syria, although Moscow has but to verify.
Obeida Arnaout, the spokesman for Syria’s new transitional authorities appointed by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) insurgent group accountable for Assad’s downfall, says Russia’s latest motion in Syria has been ambiguous.
He stresses that their resolution to take away navy ships from ports and transfer fleets of navy automobiles from bases doesn’t clearly point out whether or not the Kremlin is certainly withdrawing, or if that is a part of their common actions.
“I feel that Russia ought to rethink its presence on Syrian territory in addition to its pursuits,” he stated.
“Their pursuits have been linked to the legal Assad Regime. They will rethink and take the initiatives to succeed in out to the brand new administration to point out that they haven’t any animosity with the Syrian folks, and that the period of Assad regime is lastly over,” Arnaout added.
Arnaout says the brand new authorities has been holding talks on the highest stage with many international locations world wide. Chatting with Arabic media, he emphasised that Syria has entered a brand new section, a section targeted on repairing many years of home division and virtually 14-years of brutal combating.
He continued saying that Syria’s new coverage is considered one of openness, an strategy that seeks to construct good relations with its neighbours and the broader world.
On Saturday, the US publicly confirmed for the primary time its participation in talks with the HTS, the UK confirmed comparable motion the next day.
And on Monday, the EU additionally introduced it was taking its first step in the direction of making contact with the insurgent group. The transfer represents the strongest indication but concerning the bloc’s willingness to start normalising ties with HTS.
“I’ve tasked a European prime diplomat in Syria to go to Damascus to make the contacts with the brand new authorities and other people there,” stated Kaja Kallas; EU Excessive Consultant for International Affairs and Safety Coverage, on Monday morning earlier than heading into a gathering of EU international affairs ministers in Brussels, the place the way forward for Syria is likely one of the predominant objects on the agenda.
Is a change within the HTS’ terrorist designation on the horizon?
ADVERTISEMENTThe HTS has been blacklisted for terrorism by the United Nations since 2014 resulting from its earlier alliance with al-Qaeda. All 27 members of the EU observe that designation.
However it’s a designation the HTS is hoping international locations would rapidly abandon. Arnaout says labelling the HTS as such is “not proper and never correct.” He expressed the group’s new operations are centred on unity and justice, and urged the EU, US, UK and different international locations to rethink the classification.
Requested if the bloc ought to revise the terrorist designation to facilitate diplomacy, the EU Excessive Consultant stated “For us, it is not solely the phrases, however we wish to see the deeds entering into the best route. So not solely what they’re saying, but in addition what they’re doing,” Kallas stated.
She continued saying “I feel the approaching weeks and months will present whether or not it goes in the best route.”
ADVERTISEMENTConsiderations over the HTS’ ‘reformed’ strategy
Since overthrowing Assad’s regime, HTS has positioned itself because the main power within the new political period, appointing a caretaker prime minister to manage a transitional authorities till March 2025. The group has additionally vowed to maneuver the war-torn nation from a state-controlled to a free-market economic system to draw traders.
Nevertheless, HTS stays tormented by accusations of human rights abuses, together with alleged executions for blasphemy and adultery carried out underneath a strict, and at occasions, excessive, interpretation of Islamic regulation. This background has raised doubts concerning the insurgent power’s skill to ensure pluralism and tolerance after the autumn of Assad.
Syria is a extremely numerous nation, inhabited by Sunni Muslims, who characterize over 70% of the inhabitants, alongside Shia Muslims, Alawites, Christians and ethnic minorities like Druze, Iraqis, Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds and Palestinians.
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