Source: Chatham House –
Syrian foreign minister says Assad regime made Syria an ‘exporter of threats’ – new government wants to restore trust
News release
jon.wallace
Asaad Al-Shaibani addressed relations with the US, UK, Israel and Russia – and also responded to questions on Syria’s domestic situation.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani visited Chatham House on 13 November in his first public event in the United Kingdom, for a discussion with Institute Chair, Sir Simon Fraser, followed by questions from the audience.
The visit followed the historic raising of the Syrian flag outside the country’s re-opened London embassy on 12 November (the embassy had been closed for 12 years). The event also took place shortly after the visit of Syrian President Al-Sharaa to the White House in Washington on 10 November.
During the event, Sir Simon asked the foreign minister about UK and US relations, challenged him about attacks on Alawite and Druze minorities, and questioned him on Syria’s commitment to inclusive governance. Sir Simon said:
‘The American, the British and other governments…will want to know: what sort of Syria are we engaging with? …There are people who are concerned that this will become a Sunni Islamist led government, in which other parts of the communities and some of the regions may not be represented. Can you give us more reassurance on that point?’
The foreign minister responded that his government is working towards pluralism and inclusiveness, but highlighted the challenges of reconstruction after years of civil war:
‘The moments that we face now can be likened to a patient who is in the intensive care unit,’ he said, ‘and we want them to get into a marathon on the second day. Syria is exhausted and sick, and it needs time to be able to represent itself better. What we are doing today is that we are raising up the expectations of the Syrian people.’
Asked about Israel, the foreign minister said ‘we believe that it is a negative actor right now for the future of Syria’. Highlighting Israel’s presence on Syrian territory and its air strikes on the country, Mr Al-Shaibani expressed a wish to reach an agreement with Israel.
Discussing the direction of Syria’s foreign policy, Mr Al-Shaibani said the ambition was to restore trust, after Syria became an ‘exporter of threats’ under the previous Assad regime.
Questioned by the audience on Syria’s relations with Russia, a key ally of the previous Assad regime, the foreign minister stated that the new government’s approach was ‘pragmatic’.
Questions from the audience also covered the time pressure on Syria’s new government, the rights of women in the new Syria, and foreign investment in the country.
Watch the event in full here: https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/open-event/foreign-policy-new-syria
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