The EU has pledged €2.5 billion in aid to Syria despite ongoing violence against Christians by HTS militants. The Brussels Conference, totaling €5.8 billion in pledges, excluded Assad’s government. Key EU officials expressed hopes for a peaceful and equal rights-based Syria, while critics highlight the troubling past of the new leadership and their connection to terrorist groups. Recent resolutions also show a lack of condemnation towards associated massacres.
The European Union (EU) has committed €2.5 billion in aid to Syria, notwithstanding egregious acts of violence against Christians and minority groups perpetrated by militants associated with the nation’s new government. The Ninth Brussels Conference on Syria, held on March 17th, culminated in a total pledge of €5.8 billion to aid the war-torn country, which has endured a civil conflict since 2011.
Significant contributions also emerged from member states, including Germany’s pledged €300 million and the United Kingdom’s €190 million. The annual conference, initiated in 2017, occurred without the participation of Bashar al-Assad’s government, which was ousted last year by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist entity previously allied with both the Islamic State and Al Qaeda. However, EU leaders granted access to the new foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani.
Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign affairs chief, characterized Assad’s regime as a dictatorship, yet refrained from addressing the current leadership’s atrocities, merely asserting that it is vital for all Syrians to coexist peacefully. Likewise, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed a vision for Syria as a nation where equal rights prevail, free from sectarian violence.
Amid these developments, the EU has begun to relax sanctions affecting the energy, transportation, and financial sectors in Syria. Critics argue this approach reflects either unrealistic optimism or opportunistic disregard for the ongoing violence perpetrated by HTS, which has reportedly resulted in the deaths of 7,000 Christians and Alawites, with evidence of horrendous killings shared on social media.
The new Syrian leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has a notorious past, having served in ISIS ranks and once leading Al-Nusra Front, the Syrian wing of al-Qaeda. His foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, was integral in transitioning Al-Nusra Front into HTS, which is classified as a terrorist organization by both the EU and the United Nations. Recently, the European Parliament neglected to denounce the atrocities committed by militias associated with the Syrian government when it passed a resolution supportive of the new regime.
In conclusion, the EU’s substantial financial commitment to aid Syria stands in stark contrast to the ongoing violence and human rights abuses reported under the new government, particularly against Christians and minority communities. The EU’s intent to support a peaceful transition and promote equal rights raises concerns about the implications of engaging with a government linked to significant atrocities. The overall situation highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of international relations in addressing humanitarian crises.
Original Source: europeanconservative.com
