Syria's new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris today during his first official visit to Europe since taking office. The visit is considered a critical turning point in relations between Syria and Europe following the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
According to the French news agency AFP, the Sharaa-Macron meeting will address Syria's commitments to building a government that respects human rights, as well as the potential easing or complete lifting of sanctions imposed during the Assad era. However, there are serious hesitations on the European side regarding this issue.
EUROPE'S DOUBTS PERSIST
The violent incidents that have occurred in Syria following Ahmed al-Sharaa's rise to power, along with the Al-Qaeda-linked backgrounds of some high-level figures in the Sharaa government, have caused concern among European countries. For this reason, the European Union is acting cautiously regarding the lifting of existing sanctions.
MACRON'S 'INCLUSIVE SOCIETY' MESSAGE
A French official told AFP that France is fully aware of the new Syrian administration's background. The same official stated that during his meeting with Sharaa, President Macron will call for "a free Syrian society, free from conflict, that stands at an equal distance from all ethnic and religious communities."
News Source: 12punto
