French Foreign Minister Colonna said Syrian President al-Assad should be tried after “hundreds of deaths” and “use of chemical weapons” in the civil war.
When asked in a television interview on May 23 if she wanted to try Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said “the answer is yes”. She added that “the fight against crime, against impunity is part of French foreign policy”.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attends a meeting in Damascus 2020. Photo: AFP
The comments come as relations between Syria and countries in the region are heating up after more than a decade of tension. Assad arrived in Saudi Arabia on May 18 to attend the Arab League summit, 12 years after the organization suspended Syria’s membership.
However, Colonna said Paris would not change its policy towards the Syrian leadership. “We must remember who Bashar al-Assad is. He has been a leader opposing his own people for over 10 years,” the French foreign minister said.
She further emphasized that the European Union (EU) certainly has no plans to lift sanctions against the Syrian regime.
“As long as he doesn’t change, he doesn’t commit to reconciliation, fighting terrorism, fighting drugs and he doesn’t fulfill his commitments, there is no reason for us to change our attitude towards him,” said Ms. Colonna. “I think he has to change, not France to change its attitude.”
Several governments and international organizations accuse the Assad regime of using chemical weapons against civilians. In January, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said the Syrian air force dropped canisters of toxic gas in 2018 in Douma, then one of the last opposition strongholds near the capital, killing 43 people. Damascus has repeatedly denied chemical weapons allegations.
Twelve years ago, the Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in protest of its response to the country’s protests. The protests escalated into a civil war that continues to this day, leaving more than 500,000 dead and millions displaced. Earlier this month, the Arab League readmitted Syria, ending its policy of isolating President Assad.
Countries in the region once wanted to topple President Assad, but gradually changed their minds as he remained in power and regained lost territory with important support from Russia and Iran. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) re-established relations with Syria in 2018 and has recently led efforts to reintegrate Damascus into the region.
Diplomatic activity between countries with Damascus increased after earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey in February, prompting many parties to provide humanitarian aid to the country.
However, not all countries in the region are quick to mend relations with the Assad regime. Qatar says it will not normalize relations with Syria until there is a solution to the crisis.
The United States is also vehemently opposed to the readmission of the Arab League into Syria. “We do not believe that Syria deserves to be readmitted to the Arab League at this time. We will not normalize relations with the Assad regime nor will we support our allies and partners to do the same. So,” said Vedant Patel of the US State Department. May 8th.
Huyen Le (according to AFP)
