Faced with criticism, Emmanuel Macron defends the arrival of President Ahmed al-Charaa and calls him to protect « all Syrians »-Liberation
A controversial visitor, welcomed with the honors of the Republican Guard. Emmanuel Macron urged this Wednesday, May 7 in Paris, the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Charaa, to protect « All Syrians without exception »visibly making the bet to accompany the transition led by an Islamist coalition since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. The Head of State took advantage of it To meet criticisms of the political class By justifying the reception at the Elysée of this leader to the jihadist past.
« Stupor and dismay », had reacted the leader of the national rally, Marine Le Pen. « We do not receive leaders who are former terrorists members of organizations who want to attack France »also said the deputies Les Républicains, Laurent Wauquiez. As many « Postures for political purposes to speak to electorates »swept the head of state.
“What I see is that there is a leader who is in place. He ended a regime that we condemned, fought, whose responsibility we know and he is ready to commit. The first acts led to results ”, he added, believing that Hmed al-Charaa was « lucid ». At the same time, several dozen members of Syrian religious minorities demonstrated the Place de la République, in Paris, under the Syrian flag. « Jolani gives off! » Free from France, emerges from Syria! ” cried out the demonstrators from the Alawite, Druzes, Christian and Sunni communities, using the ex-war name of Ahmed al-Charaa.
President Ahmed al-Charaa has long directed the armed group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham from the ex-branche of Al-Qaeda in Syria. He wanted to stand out from « Terrorist acts »in particular those led in France by jihadists spent in Syria.
By his side during a rare joint press conference, after an interview of more than two hours, Emmanuel Macron also asked the Syrian President, who then carried out His first official visit to a Western countryof « Do everything to ensure the protection of all Syrians without exception, whatever their origin, their religion, their confession, their opinions ». He also told him that he had to « Make sure the authors » recent violence are « Pursued and judged ». He even pleaded for the European Union « Systematically sanction the authors of these crimes which deeply shocked all the friends of Syria ».
Massacres that left 1,700 dead, mostly alawite, in the west of the country in March, recent fights with druzesand abuses documented by NGOs have raised doubts about the ability of new authorities to control certain extremist fighters that are affiliated to them. And this even though the Islamist coalition tries to present a reassuring face to the international community which urges it to respect freedoms and protect minorities.
Syrians safety is « The first priority »assured Ahmed al-Charaa to the Elysée. He also hammered that there would be « No room for confessional confrontations » in Syria, and estimated to have « Proven » be « A reliable partner for the fight against terrorism ».
In play, the lifting of the sanctions imposed in the power of Bashar al-Assad, which weigh heavily on the country’s economy, exsangue after fourteen years of civil war, with, according to the UN, 90 % of Syrians living below the poverty line. « Nothing justifies that they are maintained »launched the Syrian president.
Emmanuel Macron abounded in his sense: he pleaded for a « Lifting of sanctions » European economic in June, and called on the United States to do the same, even if it means rebuilding the point regularly to see if Damascus keeps its commitments. He also estimated that Washington had to delay « At the maximum » The announced withdrawal of half of their soldiers deployed in Syria as part of the coalition against the jihadists of the Islamic State group.
