The European Union is analyzing the statements made by the appointment Syrian president Ahmed al Shara’a
Western diplomatic sources reported that the European Union countries were surprised by the way in which the appointment of Ahmed al Shara’a as the transitional president of Syria was announced, as well as the powers granted to him, especially with regard to forming a legislative council, with the absence of a clear timetable for the transitional phase.
These European Union’s Foreign Affairs Commission asked the legal body to form a committee of constitutional consultants to evaluate the measures taken at the Victory Conference held in Damascus, and to suggest ways to deal with the new phase.
The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Commission was formed after studying the details of the agreements reached at the conference, including the appointment of Ahmed al Shara’a as interim president of Syria and the programming of the implementation of the transitional phase.
The European Union was calling for clear timelines for forming an inclusive government and a committee to draft a constitutional declaration with the help of the United Nations, which could directly impact the lifting of sanctions on Syria.
It’s worth noting that EU delegations that visited Damascus after the fall of the Assad regime informed the new administration in Syria of the European Union’s conditions for lifting sanctions, including the need to set a reasonable time frame for the transitional phase.
The Victory Conference, including the formation of the 18 factions and the statements made by Shara’a, didn’t fully comply with European standards for recognizing the legitimacy of the new government and lifting sanctions.
In his first speech as president of the transitional phase, Ahmed al Shara’a confirmed that he assumed responsibility after extensive consultations with legal experts to ensure that the political process proceeds legally and legitimately.
He explained that he is working to form an inclusive transitional government that represents the country’s diversity, in addition to issuing a constitutional declaration and forming a preparatory committee for an interim legislative council.
According to his statements, Europe was surprised by the transitional programs that were announced, especially after al Shara’a had previously stated that the transitional phase might take 4 years, while the new agreements in the Victory Conference came with no clear timetable.
Meanwhile, the EU may reconsider some of the points that were raised, as the upcoming international meetings, including the Foreign Ministers Conference and the Paris meeting, may witness new surprises in the European positions towards the sanctions imposed on Syria.
The EU is expected to continue to assess the Syrian situation in cooperation with legal experts, and these reviews may lead to a gradual suspension of sanctions based on future developments.
