Syria’s new transitional authorities says there isn’t a place for Russian presence in Syria every week after the nation’s long-time President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown. The new authorities additionally says it’s open to interact in contacts with all nations to pave Syria’s new future.
ADVERTISEMENTThe 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 had 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 are thought of among the many Kremlin’s most strategically necessary navy outposts.
The Tartus website is especially vital, 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 partaking in a large-scale withdrawal from Syria, although Moscow has but to substantiate.
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 determination 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 mentioned.
“Their pursuits had been linked to the felony Assad Regime. They can 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 individuals, 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 degree with many nations world wide. Speaking to Arabic media, he emphasised that Syria has entered a brand new section, a section centered on repairing many years of home division and nearly 14-years of brutal combating.
He continued saying that Syria’s new coverage is one among 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 related 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 folks there,” mentioned Kaja Kallas; EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Monday morning earlier than heading into a gathering of EU international affairs ministers in Brussels, the place the way forward for Syria is without doubt one of the important 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.
But it’s a designation the HTS is hoping nations 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 nations to rethink the classification.
Asked if the bloc ought to revise the terrorist designation to facilitate diplomacy, the EU High Representative mentioned “For us, it is not solely the phrases, however we wish to see the deeds stepping into the correct route. So not solely what they’re saying, but in addition what they’re doing,” Kallas mentioned.
She continued saying “I feel the approaching weeks and months will present whether or not it goes in the correct route.”
ADVERTISEMENTConcerns 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.
However, HTS stays stricken by accusations of human rights abuses, together with alleged executions for blasphemy and adultery carried out underneath a strict, and at instances, 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 symbolize 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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