The EU has committed €2.5 billion in aid to Syria despite ongoing massacres of minorities by HTS, a jihadist group associated with the new government. The Ninth Brussels Conference raised a total of €5.8 billion in pledges, with contributions from several countries. However, there are concerns regarding the EU’s failure to adequately address the atrocities committed by HTS and its leadership’s ties to terrorist factions.
The European Union has recently pledged €2.5 billion in aid to Syria, occurring amid grave concerns regarding a massacre of thousands of Christians and other minorities by militants affiliated with the new Syrian government. This commitment was announced at the Ninth Brussels Conference on Syria, which concluded with a total promise of €5.8 billion for the war-torn nation, struggling since the onset of a civil war in 2011.
Individual contributions bolstered the EU’s promise, notably including €300 million from Germany and €190 million from the United Kingdom. The EU has hosted this annual conference since 2017, yet this year’s event notably occurred without the presence of Bashar al-Assad’s government, recently overthrown by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist organization previously linked to both Islamic State and Al Qaeda.
EU leadership this year welcomed Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, the foreign minister of the new government. Despite labeling Assad’s regime as dictatorial, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas did not address the present leadership’s involvement in the ongoing atrocities and stated, “it’s high time that all Syrians can live safely in peace.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her hope for a future Syria characterized by “equal rights and representation for all—men and women alike, beyond faith, ethnicity and ideology.” In line with this, the EU has begun to relax certain sanctions related to energy, transport, and financial sectors against Syria.
However, such optimistic rhetoric may appear misleading, as the EU has not sufficiently acknowledged HTS’s role in the murder of approximately 7,000 Christians and Alawites. Social media has depicted harrowing images of Alawite and Christian victims executed at close range.
The current head of the Syrian government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, previously served in ISIS ranks and led the Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda, also referred to as Al-Nusra Front. Asaad Hassan al-Shibani played a significant role during the transition from Al-Nusra Front to HTS, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the EU and the United Nations.
Just days ago, the leftist-centrist majority in the European Parliament also failed to denounce the atrocities committed by militias aligned with the Syrian government, thereby approving a resolution endorsing the new administration.
In conclusion, the European Union’s significant pledge of aid to Syria amid ongoing violence raises serious questions about its commitment to human rights. The involvement of jihadist groups in atrocities against minorities has been largely overlooked, prompting skepticism about the EU’s approach. With a new Syrian government comprised of figures linked to terrorist organizations, the peace and equity sought for all citizens remains uncertain. The situation underscores the complexities of providing aid in such a volatile environment while ensuring accountability for egregious actions.
Original Source: europeanconservative.com
