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French and German Ministers Call for Inclusive Transition in First EU Visit to Post-Assad Syria
The French and German foreign ministers, Jean-Noël Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, have made a landmark visit to Syria, marking the first European Union ministerial delegation since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December. The visit aimed to engage with Syria’s new leadership and emphasize the need for an inclusive political transition.
Barrot and Baerbock met Ahmad al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, in Damascus. Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed Al Jolani, leads Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that spearheaded the rebellion against Assad. In recent years, HTS has distanced itself from its previous affiliation with al-Qaeda, seeking legitimacy on the international stage.
Baerbock approached the talks with cautious optimism, stating she came to Syria with an “outstretched hand” while remaining mindful of HTS’s controversial past.
Calls for Representation and Justice
The European ministers emphasized the importance of creating a political system that represents all of Syria’s diverse communities.
“Syria must embark on a political transition that ensures inclusivity for all its citizens, regardless of religion or gender,” Barrot said on Friday. He announced that France and the EU are offering judicial and technical support to help draft a new Syrian constitution.
Baerbock echoed these sentiments, stressing on social media that “a new beginning can only happen if every Syrian, irrespective of ethnic or religious identity, is given a voice in the political process.”
Focus on Human Rights and Accountability
During their visit, the ministers toured the notorious Sednaya prison, which under Assad’s regime was synonymous with arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Both were visibly affected by the experience, likening the prison to a “hellish concentration camp.”
Barrot stressed the importance of justice for Syria’s recovery. “Syria cannot move forward without addressing past atrocities,” he said, pledging France’s technical support to aid transitional justice and combat impunity. Baerbock called on the international community to help bring justice to the victims of Sednaya’s horrors.
Chemical Weapons and International Oversight
Barrot also recommended that Syria’s transitional government engage with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He proposed that a team be dispatched to Syria to assess and work toward the elimination of any remaining chemical weapons.
The visit reflects the EU’s cautious but determined approach to fostering stability and rebuilding diplomatic relations in Syria, with an emphasis on justice, inclusivity, and accountability.
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Russia Demands SWIFT Reconnection as Condition to Revive Black Sea Initiative
Russia has set forth a key demand for the restoration of the Black Sea Initiative—reconnecting its Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT financial system. This request, which falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union (EU), comes amid ongoing negotiations between global powers on the war in Ukraine.
Partial Ceasefire and Black Sea Security Agreement
Following recent talks in Saudi Arabia, the United States announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a partial ceasefire specifically covering energy facilities. While this fell short of the broader ceasefire pushed by former President Donald Trump, the parties also agreed on measures to ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels in the Black Sea and to prevent their use for military purposes.
However, the Kremlin quickly detailed additional conditions, demanding the lifting of sanctions on food exports, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and cargo insurance. Most notably, Russia is insisting that Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in agricultural trade be reinstated on SWIFT, a global messaging system that facilitates secure financial transactions.
EU’s Role and Sanctions History
SWIFT, headquartered in Belgium, falls under EU regulations. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU removed several Russian banks from SWIFT in 2022, including Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, and Rosselkhozbank. The exclusion was a significant blow to Russia’s financial system, as it restricted the country’s ability to conduct international transactions.
Rosselkhozbank, a state-owned institution, plays a critical role in facilitating payments for Russia’s agricultural exports, a major revenue source through the global sale of wheat, barley, and corn. While the EU has not directly sanctioned Russian agricultural exports, the banking restrictions have complicated payments for these transactions, leading to the collapse of the initial Black Sea Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations.
Diplomatic Tensions and Uncertain Outcomes
The demand to reinstate Rosselkhozbank puts the EU in a difficult position. Granting this request could signal a willingness to make concessions, potentially encouraging Russia to seek further sanctions relief. However, refusing it could provoke tensions with the Trump administration, which is eager to secure a ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently opposed easing sanctions, arguing that they must remain in place until Russia ends its military aggression. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this stance, stating that sanctions would only be lifted after Russia takes concrete steps toward peace.
As EU sanctions require unanimous renewal every six months, any member state could disrupt the process. Hungary, which has previously expressed opposition to sanctions, could leverage this situation to push for changes when restrictions are up for review on July 31.
Future of SWIFT and Global Financial Pressures
While the EU holds the power to reinstate Rosselkhozbank’s SWIFT access, the U.S. could signal leniency by ensuring that those engaging with the bank avoid legal repercussions. Analysts suggest that Russia’s demand may be a strategic move to test both Washington and Brussels, pressuring the EU to reconsider its stance on financial restrictions.
For now, the EU remains firm in its approach. France has indicated that sanctions should remain unless Russia agrees to a full ceasefire, reparations, and security guarantees for Ukraine. However, with negotiations ongoing and international pressure mounting, the debate over SWIFT and broader sanctions relief is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
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