Macron supports easing sanctions on Syria after meeting interim President al-Sharaa
The high-stakes visit was a controversial one after multiple deadly attacks in Syria sparked international outrage.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/05/07/macron-supports-easing-sanctions-on-syria-after-meeting-interim-president-al-sharaa
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The high-stakes visit was a controversial one after multiple deadly attacks in Syria sparked international outrage.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/05/07/macron-supports-easing-sanctions-on-syria-after-meeting-interim-president-al-sharaa
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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00:00French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharah in Paris on Wednesday evening.
00:08This meeting marks al-Sharah's first visit to Europe since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime back in December of last year.
00:17However, this meeting was a somewhat risky diplomatic move.
00:21Al-Sharah is still under a UN travel ban, but he's been trying to rebrand himself on the international stage from Islamist rebel to legitimate head of state.
00:34During the joint press conference on Wednesday, Macron announced that he will back a gradual lifting of sanctions as long as the Syrian interim government continues to deliver on justice and reforms.
00:47The French leader also stated that Syria must protect all Syrians regardless of their faith.
00:54He was referring to the 1,700 mostly Alawite civilians killed in western Syria, as well as recent clashes with the Druze communities that sparked international outrage.
01:08Al-Sharah insisted that his government has launched investigations into these attacks.
01:14Still, Macron's invitation had sparked a fierce backlash at home.
01:20Multiple French parties, especially from the far right and right, said that the president was legitimizing a former jihadist.
01:30However, Macron pushed back, saying that diplomacy requires dialogue, even with those that we don't fully agree with.