French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that he was ready to receive Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Chareh, provided that the Syrian government opens up to all segments of civil society and commits to ensuring security conditions necessary for the return of Syrian refugees.
"A government that represents all components of Syrian civil society, a clear and resolute fight against terrorism, and the facilitation of refugee returns—these are the three criteria by which the transition will be assessed," Macron stated during a joint press conference with newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
"Depending on developments in the coming weeks, we are fully prepared to continue this dialogue and host the transitional president. The next few weeks will be decisive in evaluating progress. However, the discussions we have had so far have been positive," he added.
The French and Lebanese presidents had just held a videoconference with the Syrian leader and his counterparts from Cyprus and Greece, during which they discussed the return of Syrian refugees.
"This issue is crucial not only for a country like Lebanon but for the entire region," Macron emphasized.
"The prerequisite for repatriation is the establishment of political representation that genuinely reflects the entirety of Syrian civil society. This is the commitment the interim president has made, and these are the announcements he is expected to make tomorrow (Saturday)," he said.
"It is also essential to guarantee the safety of all Syrians on their own soil," Macron added, calling for "international mobilization" to establish "a stable framework for the return" of refugees, including socio-economic measures to support reintegration.
Syria's political transition remains complex following the rise to power of a coalition led by Ahmad al-Chareh, which ended more than half a century of rule by the Assad family. In recent weeks, massacres have been reported in the western part of the country, primarily targeting members of the Alawite community.
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