Latest news with #Damascus
The National
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Frustration with UK over slow-walk Damascus ties as embassy remains closed
The entrance to the Syrian embassy in London remains littered with cardboard boxes, almost a month after Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared the UK had re-established diplomatic relations in Damascus. Moisture drips over the cracked paint above the door and a plant left in the window of the first floor when the building in Belgrave Square was abandoned in 2012 has long since dried out. I would have expected an announcement, it's really essential Ranim Alwair, Syrian architect Frustration is rising with the UK's cautious approach to the new transitional government in Damascus. Mr Lammy made his first official visit to the capital this month to meet the country's President Ahmad Al Shara. The restoration of formal diplomatic relations this summer has not yet borne fruit in Belgrave Square. Weeks later an exchange of ambassadors has not happened. Observers warn London wavers between wanting to influence that transition and keeping the Syrians at arm's length. The UK government continues to rely on its Special Representative to Syria, Ann Snow, who was the first western diplomat to visit Syria after the fall of Bashar Al Assad in December. The UK set the tone for removing sanctions on Syria in March – paving the way for similar moves by the European Union and later the US. But it delayed official visits for much longer than European counterparts, with French President Emmanuel Macron hosting Mr Al Shara in Paris in May. 'They started quicker than others but then it slowed down,' said Dr Haid Haid, a fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa programme. 'The relationship did not improve in the same way as it did with other countries. You did not see Foreign Minister Assad Al Shaibani visiting London when he visited Europe earlier this year.' It is understood the delays were due in part to logistics, as the embassy residence in Damascus, which was abandoned in 2012, needs to be repaired. The mission then operated out of the embassy in Beirut. But there have also been doubts linked to the dynamics on the ground, such as the sectarian fighting that erupted in March, resulting in the massacre of hundreds of Alawites – members of a religious community who fought alongside the Assad regime during the Syrian civil war – and again this month with the Druze of Sweida. Many Syrians credit Ms Snow for having persuaded UK ministers to remove the sanctions earlier this year. She is thought to have forged relationships with 'all the relevant people' in Damascus, her frequent visits ensuring the diplomatic relationship runs smoothly. Ms Snow oversaw the UK's humanitarian aid and education programmes in north-west Syria until Mr Al Assad was ousted. When she was appointed to the role in 2023, the region was controlled by opposition and armed groups, including Mr Al Shara's now disbanded Hayat Tahrir Al Sham. She is also active in meeting Syrian communities in London, members of which have been called in to support and advise the new administration and its institutions. Risk takers John Jenkins, a former British ambassador to Damascus, believes a period of 'long consultations' with UK allies would have contributed to the delays in restoring relations. 'We would have had to consult with the Americans and with the Israelis, who are risk averse on Syria,' he said. The Israelis may have felt they 'can't certify' Mr Al Shara, fearing that though he may be taking steps at inclusivity, he may not be able to curtail the more hardline elements within his government, Mr Jenkins added. Questions remain about who could serve as the channel for communication between the UK government and Mr Al Shaibani, as Damascus seeks to re-establish its embassy in London. Dr Haid said the meeting between Mr Lammy and Mr Al Shara last week included a call to reopen the embassies on both sides – though a date for this has not been set. But there are concerns that the UK government has become too reliant on back-channel diplomacy. The negotiations with the transitional administration are believed to have been conducted by Inter Mediate, a UK-based conflict mediation charity which first established contact with Mr Al Shara in 2015. It's founder and former chief executive Jonathan Powell resigned from the group in November when he was appointed Britain's National Security Adviser. The National previously reported he had met Mr Al Shaibani's delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, in an unofficial capacity. Though Inter Mediate is often praised by sources for their work in Damascus, its under-the-radar nature has also been criticised by UK MPs, who say it allows the government to bypass scrutiny. One Conservative shadow spokesman has raised fears the government is covering up the precise nature of Inter Mediate's work in Syria. 'When asked what meetings Inter Mediate has had with the Foreign Office in the last year, ministers have refused to comment on 'private discussions' on its role in Syria,' wrote Conservative MP Alex Burghart in a parliamentary letter. 'This approach is contrary to the expectation of transparency,' he said in a letter to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, seen by The National. Help needed But for British-Syrians seeking to support their country back home, the absence of diplomatic missions on both sides is a major obstacle. The Syrian embassy building in Belgrave Square has been empty since 2012, with no signs of repair to this day. Syria's former flag has been removed. London-based architect Ranim Alwair, who fled Homs in 2012, said a Syrian embassy reopening in London was 'really essential'. Since Al Assad's downfall, she and her sister – a paediatric pharmacist at a major London hospital – have attempted to have their UK qualifications certified in Syria so that they can one day return and work there. But their efforts have been costly, as they were forced to send their documents for certification to the Syrian embassy in Paris. 'In the end, we lost them.' Ms Alwair has been advising Syrian government officials on the best ways to integrate AI into their public administration and on domestic upskilling. She is disappointed that no announcement was made with regards to reopening the Syrian embassy in London after Mr Lammy's visit. The presence of a diplomatic and consular team at a British embassy in Damascus would amount to vital reassurance in case anything goes wrong when they return as British citizens ready to help Syria rebuild. The fledgling government has struggled to bring to a close an outbreak of violence in the southern city of Sweida that has pitted the local majority Druze population against Bedouin tribes and forces loyal to the leadership in Damascus. 'I would have expected an announcement, it's really essential,' Ms Alwair said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
French Prosecutors Seek New Arrest Warrant against Bashar Assad
French prosecutors said Monday they have requested a new arrest warrant against Syria's ousted President Bashar al-Assad over a deadly 2013 chemical attacks after a previous one was cancelled, AFP reported. It is now up to investigating magistrates to decide whether to issue the new warrant. French investigators have since 2021 been looking into a suspected Syrian government sarin gas attack that killed more than 1,000 people, according to US intelligence, on August 4 and 5, 2013, in the areas of Adra and Douma outside Damascus. The Court of Cassation, France's highest court, on Friday ruled there were no exceptions to presidential immunity, even for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, annulling a French warrant against Assad issued in 2023 when he was still leader. It however added that, as Assad, who was toppled in December, was no longer president, new warrants could be issued and the French investigation could continue. In November 2023, the French judiciary issued an arrest warrant against Assad on charges of complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes, in connection with the chemical attacks attributed to the Syrian government under his rule. The French judiciary tackled the case under the principle of universal jurisdiction, whereby a court may prosecute individuals for serious crimes committed in other countries. An investigation – based on testimonies of survivors and military defectors, as well as photos and video footage – led to warrants for the arrest of Assad, his brother Maher – then head of the Syrian army's fourth division – and two generals, Ghassan Abbas and Bassam al-Hassan. Public prosecutors approved three of the warrants, but issued an appeal against the one targeting Assad, arguing he should have immunity as a head of state. The Paris Court of Appeal in June last year however upheld it, and prosecutors again appealed. Assad and his family fled to Russia, according to Russian authorities, after opposition fighters seized power on December 8. Another French warrant is already out for Assad's arrest, issued in January for suspected complicity in war crimes for a bombing in the Syrian city of Daraa in 2017 that killed a French-Syrian civilian.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New legal action launched against Syria's Assad after French court ruling
New legal proceedings have been set in motion against Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad, after France's top court cleared the way for prosecution now that he no longer holds office. French prosecutors have asked magistrates to issue a new arrest warrant for Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad over a deadly 2013 chemical attack, following the annulment of a previous warrant due to presidential immunity. The move comes after France's top court, the Court of Cassation, last Friday quashed a 2023 warrant targeting Assad while he was still in power. The court ruled that heads of state are protected by personal immunity – even in cases involving alleged war crimes or crimes against humanity. However, the court's president, Christophe Soulard, said that since Assad was toppled by Islamist-led fighters in December 2024, fresh arrest warrants may now be issued, and the investigation can proceed. France's highest court to rule on arrest warrant for ex-Syrian president Assad French authorities have been investigating the sarin gas attacks on Adra and Douma, near Damascus, which took place on 4 to 5 August 2013. More than 1,000 people were killed, according to US intelligence. Assad is accused of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the command structure behind the attack. On Friday, the National Anti-Terror Prosecutor's Office confirmed it had requested 'the issuing and international dissemination' of a new warrant against Assad. Assad and his family fled to Russia following his ouster, according to Russian officials. Setback for accountability The Court of Cassation's ruling on Friday has drawn criticism from human rights advocates who had hoped the court would set a precedent by lifting immunity in the face of grave international crimes. 'This ruling represents a setback for the global fight against impunity for the most serious crimes under international law,' said Mazen Darwish, head of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression, which is a civil party in the case. Still, the court did uphold indictments in related cases under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows French courts to prosecute serious international crimes committed abroad. In particular, the court backed legal action against former Syrian central bank governor Adib Mayaleh, accused of funding the Assad regime during the conflict. Mayaleh, a naturalised French citizen, is charged with complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity. Darwish welcomed this element of the ruling as a 'great victory,' stating it reinforces that no foreign official can hide behind immunity in cases of international crimes. France's top court annuls arrest warrant against Syria's Assad Broader legal efforts The French inquiry into the 2013 attack is based on testimonies from survivors, defectors, and extensive photographic and video evidence. Arrest warrants have previously been issued for Assad, his brother Maher – commander of an elite military unit – and two generals. In January, French magistrates issued a separate arrest warrant against Assad over a 2017 bombing in Deraa that killed a French-Syrian civilian. Syria's civil war, triggered by a brutal crackdown on anti-Assad protests in 2011, has left over half a million people dead and displaced millions. Assad's fall marked the end of his family's five-decade rule.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kremlin reveals contents of Putin-Netanyahu call
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in a phone call focused on developments in the Middle East, according to the Kremlin. The two leaders discussed the situation in Syria and the recent escalation between Israel and Iran. Moscow reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful resolution of regional conflicts, the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin emphasized the importance of preserving Syria's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also offered Russia's assistance in establishing dialogue between Israel and Iran following the recent conflict between the two nations. Moscow is ready 'to contribute in every possible way to finding a negotiated solution' to the tensions around the Iranian nuclear program. Putin and Netanyahu also agreed to continue the dialogue on pressing bilateral and international issues, the Kremlin added. After Bashar Assad's government fell late last year, Israel expanded its presence in Syria beyond the Golan Heights, citing the need to prevent hostile actors from gaining a foothold near its borders. Earlier this month, the Israel Defense Forces also launched multiple airstrikes on the Syrian Defense Ministry in Damascus, claiming the strikes were in defense of the Druze minority in southern Syria. Netanyahu and Syria's interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former commander of Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militia, then agreed to a US-mediated ceasefire. In June, Israel carried out US-supported air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, triggering a retaliation from Tehran. The two countries exchanged strikes for 12 days. Russia was among the few nations to contact both Israel and Iran immediately after first strikes were launched in a bid to defuse tensions. It also proposed several compromise frameworks to all parties, according to Putin.
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
US urges UN Security Council to adjust sanctions on Syria
UNITED NATIONS, July 28 (Reuters) - The United States urged the United Nations Security Council on Monday to adjust its sanctions on Syria to help the country's government prevail in what the acting U.S. ambassador described as "the fight against terrorism." After 13 years of civil war, Syria's President was ousted in December in a lightning offensive by insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Formerly known as the Nusra Front, HTS was al Qaeda's official wing in Syria until breaking ties in 2016. Since May 2014, the group has been on the United Nations Security Council's al Qaeda and Islamic State sanctions list and subjected to a global asset freeze and arms embargo. A number of HTS members are also under U.N. sanctions - a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo - including its leader, Ahmed Sharaa, who is now Syria's interim president. The United States is working with Security Council members to review Syria-related sanctions, acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea said on Monday. "The Syrian government has made a clear commitment to combat al Qaeda and ISIL (Islamic State), and both groups are equally clear that they oppose the new government and are threatening to destroy it. Council members should not take those threats lightly," she told a Security Council meeting on Syria. "The Council can – and must – adjust its sanctions so the Syrian government can prevail in the fight against terrorism, while keeping the most dangerous and unrepentant actors designated," she said. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a major U.S. policy shift in May when he said he would on Syria. United Nations sanctions monitors have seen no "active ties" this year between al Qaeda and the Islamist group leading Syria's interim government, according to an unpublished U.N. report, a finding that could strengthen the U.S. push to ease some U.N. sanctions on Syria.
