In a Paris press conference alongside French president Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa said the remaining European sanctions on his country were unjustified now that Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been toppled.
“These sanctions were placed on the former regime because of the crimes it committed … There is no justification for keeping the sanctions,” he said.
The new leader of the country, who is affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a terror group proscribed by the U.S., the United Nations, and the UK, said, “the safety of Syrian citizens is our top priority and we confirmed this to President Macron.”
Al-Sharaa has denied the involvement of HTS troops in the massacres that, according to some reports, claimed the lives of over 7,000 Christians and Alawites in his country in March.
Macron, for his part, said he is willing to support the gradual easing of EU sanctions provided the country continues on its current course, adding he would urge the U.S. to follow suit.
Al-Sharaa also confirmed that Syria has participated in indirect negotiations with Israel in an effort to “calm the situation and prevent it from spiraling out of control.”
The meeting, at Macron’s initiative, has been harshly criticized by his political opponents.
