Syria’s de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted Lebanese Druze chief Walid Jumbalad in one other bid to reassure minorities they are going to be protected after Islamist rebels led the ousting of Bashar Assad two weeks in the past.
Sharaa, who heads the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, stated no sects could be excluded within the nation, in what he described as “a brand new period far faraway from sectarianism.”
‘Our obligation to guard them’ — interim chief
HTS was the primary group that compelled Assad out on December 8, with some Syrians and international international locations having voiced considerations he could impose strict Islamic governance on a rustic with quite a few minority teams, together with Druze, Kurds, Christians and Alawites.
“We take delight in our tradition, our faith and our Islam. Being a part of the Islamic surroundings doesn’t imply the exclusion of different sects. On the opposite, it’s our obligation to guard them,” he stated throughout the assembly with Jumblatt, in accordance with Lebanese broadcaster Al Jadeed.
During the assembly, Sharaa additionally stated Syria will not exert “detrimental interference in Lebanonat all,” and that Damascus “respects Lebanon’s sovereignty, the unity of its territories, the independence of its choices and its safety stability.”
Sharaa acknowledged Syria has been a “supply of worry and nervousness” for its neighbor, and added the nation will “keep at equal distance from all” in Lebanon.
More engagement with interim management
In the previous a number of days, Syria hosted quite a few international guests, amongst them, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who met al-Sharaa in Damascus, in accordance with Turkey’s international ministry.
Footage shared by the ministry confirmed Fidan and Sharaa shaking fingers, hugging and smiling.
After the assembly, Fidan known as for the worldwide neighborhood to interact with Syria’s new administration, whereas calling for sanctions imposed on the nation throughout Assad’s regime, to be lifted.
Turkey has maintained robust ties with Syria’s new leaders.
Another Middle Eastern nation that has been supporting Syria’s opposition for years on finish is Saudi Arabia. Riyadh stated it’ll ship a delegation to Syria quickly, in accordance with the Syrian ambassador within the Saudi capital.
Western governments have been weighing up how finest to interact with Syria’s interim management as a consequence of HTS being below EU sanctions and likewise its designated standing as a terrorist group.
ftm/kb (AFP, Reuters)
