The EU pledged €2.5 billion in aid to Syria at the Ninth Brussels Conference, amidst ongoing atrocities against Christians by militants in the new government. Despite contributions from various nations, concerns arise about the decision to ease sanctions and the troubling ties of new government leaders to terrorist organizations, amidst a backdrop of violence against minorities in the region.
The European Union (EU) has pledged €2.5 billion in aid to Syria despite recent atrocities against Christians and other minorities by militants affiliated with the new government. This announcement came during the Ninth Brussels Conference on Syria, held on March 17th, which resulted in a total pledge of €5.8 billion for the war-torn nation, devastated by civil conflict since 2011.
Significant contributions also came from individual countries, including €300 million from Germany and €190 million from the United Kingdom. The annual conference, hosted by the EU since 2017, proceeded without Bashar al-Assad’s government, which was ousted last year by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist group previously linked to Islamic State and Al Qaeda.
EU leaders welcomed the new Syrian foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. Although EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas referred to Assad’s regime as a dictatorship, she did not address the current government’s human rights violations, instead stating that it is time for all Syrians to live in peace and safety.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed hope for a Syria that prioritizes equal rights for all, regardless of gender, faith, or ethnicity, and devoid of sectarian violence. Additionally, the EU has started to relax sanctions on Syria’s energy, transportation, and financial sectors.
This optimism from Brussels is met with skepticism, as it overlooks the involvement of HTS militants in the murder of approximately 7,000 Christians and Alawites in Syria, with documented instances of families being executed. The new Syrian government head, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has ties to ISIS and was previously a leader of the Al-Nusra Front.
The HTS is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the United Nations. Furthermore, a recent resolution from the European Parliament supported the new government while neglecting to call out the violence committed by militia groups aligned with it, reflecting a troubling inconsistency in EU policy regarding human rights violations.
The EU’s pledge of aid to Syria raises concerns due to the ongoing violence inflicted by the newly established government and associated militant groups. Despite significant financial commitments, the EU’s optimism seems misplaced, given the historical context of violence against minorities in Syria. The association of key government figures with terrorist activity further complicates the situation. Recognition of these atrocities is vital for credibility in future diplomatic efforts.
Original Source: europeanconservative.com
