International calls for inclusive gov’t in Syria after Assad’s fall
Many countries in the world are calling for the formation of an inclusive, new government in Syria after militants toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad following a shock attack.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry in a statement on Sunday called for the formation of an inclusive government representing all Syrian people, stressing that the country’s future should only be decided by the Syrians.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also said on Sunday that Syria’s new administration must be inclusive because Syrian people would determine their own future.
Syrian militants declared the fall of Syrian government after seizing control of Damascus on Sunday, ending the Assad family’s rule after more than 13 years of war in the Arab country.
Turkey, which has been supporting militants since the beginning of war in 2011, has said it did not support the militant operation in northern Syria, and that Assad’s refusal to engage in a serious political solution had triggered his downfall.
A new government will soon be formed, according to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that seized Damascus over the weekend.
“Our forces are about to finish imposing order in the capital and preserving public property, and the new government will begin its work as soon as it is formed,” the militants said in a statement on Telegram on Monday.
Meanwhile, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, who had been in power under Assad’s rule, said in a video statement that, “We are ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people by providing all possible facilities to ensure a smooth transfer of various government files.”
Al-Jalali said in a separate interview that they were working to ensure a calm and brief transitional period and that most ministers were in their offices.
‘Peaceful transition’
The EU has also called for “an orderly, peaceful and inclusive transition” in Syria that rejects “all forms of extremism” and protects religious minorities.
“It is critical to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and to respect its independence, its sovereignty, as well as state institutions, and to reject all forms of extremism,” the EU said in a statement.
France said it will support the transition to a new government in Syria only if the rights of minority populations are respected, Jean-Noel Barrot, French caretaker foreign minister, said.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Monday said there was a “huge chance” for inclusive dialogue on the political transition in Syria’s new era after the ousting of Assad.
Damascus was relatively quiet after a day of chaos and looting on Sunday, with armed members of the militants spread out across the city as they sought to restore order a day after the collapse of the Assad government, who left the country for Russia where he and his family have been granted asylum.
Delisting of HTS
In another development, the UK said the government is “quickly” considering its stance on the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which is proscribed by the UK as a terrorist organization, and that the immediate future in Syria is “very uncertain.”
HTS is also designated as a terror group by the United States, and its leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani, has a long history of militancy, before breaking away from Al-Qaeda and seeking to rebrand it as a nationalist force.
US officials are also considering removing the HTS from the US terrorist list, The Washington Post reported on Monday.