As announced by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, a team of diplomats traveled to Damascus on December 17 to mark France's determination to stand with the Syrian people following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. This is France's first diplomatic mission in Damascus in 12 years.
The team spoke with a representative appointed by the transition authorities. They noted that in keeping with the ideals of the 2011 revolution, which it supported, France hoped for a peaceful political transition that would represent all components of Syrian society and respect the rights of all Syrians, including women; that it would guarantee the protection of civilians, particularly ethnic and religious minorities; and that it would preserve state institutions and guarantee Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also emphasized that France would be paying close attention to whether collective security interests were guaranteed, including the continuation of the fight against Daesh and other terrorist groups, and to the prevention of the spread of chemical weapons from the Syrian regime. They stressed that France would determine its commitments in Syria based on these criteria.
The mission went to the Embassy of France, which had been closed since 2012, to prepare for the reopening of our diplomatic facilities, based on political and security conditions.
The special envoy spoke with representatives of Syrian civil society organizations working to assist the population. He expressed France's determination to promptly deploy resources to enable medical and psychological support for those freed from the regime's prisons, and to support the fight against impunity for crimes committed.
The mission also spoke with representatives of diverse Syrian communities, expressing France's commitment to a pluralistic Syria in which the rights of all would be preserved within the framework of common citizenship.
The mission met with representatives from the UN and the EU, with whom it discussed the coordination of international efforts to assist the Syrians.
France will continue to work with its partners to help the Syrians find a way to achieve reconciliation and reconstruction through a politically inclusive solution.