Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's controversial visit to France - his first official visit to a Western country - provides an opportunity to discuss the need to hold those responsible for recent violence against ethnic communities in Syria accountable, as well as to continue efforts to combat terrorism. This was stated by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in an interview with TF1 television, quoted by Agence France-Presse, BTA reports.
President Emmanuel Macron was subjected to sharp criticism from the right and far-right political forces in France for inviting al-Sharaa - a leader with a jihadist past. The Syrian president will be received this afternoon at the Elysee Palace and will take part in a joint press conference with his French host - a rare event in such a context.
“We brought him here precisely to ask him to continue the fight against impunity“, said Barrot, stressing the need to bring to justice those responsible for the mass killings of people from the Alawite minority in the coastal regions of Syria, as well as those responsible for the attacks on the Druze community a few days ago.
The attacks in the west of the country in March, which killed around 1,700 people - mainly Alawites - as well as the recent clashes with the Druze and documented human rights violations by non-governmental organizations, have raised serious doubts about the ability of the new Syrian authorities to contain extremist groups linked to them.
On the fight against terrorism, Barrot said: “If we are having this difficult dialogue with the transitional Syrian leadership, it is because if Syria disintegrates or fragments today, it will roll out the red carpet in front of “Islamic State“.“
By hosting the Syrian president in Paris, the French head of state hopes to steer the transition towards “a free, stable and sovereign Syria that respects all components of Syrian society“, the Elysee Palace told AFP.