With hundreds left dead over the weekend under Syria’s new regime, Greek Foreign Minister Giorigios Gerapetritis warned Europe and the U.S. to “keep a close eye” on the ruling Islamist group that is working to gain acceptance by the West.
Syria contains a sizable population of Orthodox Christians, and Gerapetritis insisted the international community demand religious minorities be included in governance, or else leave sanctions in place.
“All ethnic and religious minorities should be included in the governance, rule of law,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview conducted last week prior to the weekend’s violence.
“The release of sanctions should take place mostly on a gradual basis. We need to see how it goes,” he went on, adding that any lifting of sanctions should be “reversible.”
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“It is of the utmost importance that the U.S. and Europe are keeping a close eye on Syria. We need to encourage the new regime to stay close to international law.”
Days of clashes between those affiliated with Syria’s new governing force HTS and those loyal to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad have left hundreds of civilians dead.
Death toll estimates have varied. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday more than 1,000 people had been killed, including 700 civilians. Another monitoring group, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, reported that government forces had killed 327 civilians and captured militants and Assad loyalists had killed 148.
It was the bloodiest internal clash since Assad was ousted in early December.
Fighting began Thursday after Assad loyalists ambushed government forces in the Latakia province, and revenge killings left entire families, mostly of the Alawite sect of Islam, dead in their wake, according to the United Nations.
“We are receiving extremely disturbing reports of entire families, including women, children and hors de combat [surrendered] fighters, being killed,” U.N. human rights commissioner Volker Türk said in a statement. “The killing of civilians in coastal areas in north-west Syria must cease, immediately.”
Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said the fighting was part of “expected challenges” and called for national unity.
“We have to preserve national unity and domestic peace; we can live together,” he said.
Russia and the U.S. asked the U.N. Security Council to meet privately on Monday to discuss the violence in Syria.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham was founded as an al Qaeda offshoot but broke away from the group in 2016. In December, the Biden administration lifted a $10 million bounty on the head of al-Sharaa.
The group has been trying to shake its extremist reputation and terrorist designation, with a smooth-talking al-Sharaa claiming he does not want Syria to become the next Afghanistan and he believes in education for women.
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Gerapetritis also expressed “concern” about Turkey’s Blue Homeland Doctrine, which has prompted incursions into Greek waters. The expression refers to Turkey’s maritime claims over large portions of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in large part spurred by large deposits of natural gas off the coast of Cyprus.
“We are concerned, you know, the Blue Homeland doctrine is a doctrine that goes against international law,” he said. “Greece has abided by international law, especially international law of the seas.”
Geraptetritis said relations between Greece and Turkey had improved in recent years – Turkish incursions of Greek airspace had “minimized” and the two countries had coordinated on tackling illegal immigration.
“There must be a major step concerning the limitation of maritime zones. We’re not still there,” he said.
Greece and Turkey, both members of NATO, have had tensions for decades, though relations have improved in recent years.
“I have to emphasize the fact that Greece is a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the broader region.”
The foreign minister also boasted of Greece’s growing relationship with India, and views his nation as a gateway for India’s planned Middle East-Europe corridor.
He framed it as a way to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative, where the CCP seeks access and influence across the globe by financing development and trade projects.
“This major, plan is, I think, an excellent project,” said Gerapetritis. “In order to diversify the routes concerning transport, concerning data, concerning energy. We are very like-minded with the United States when it comes to foreign and security policy.”
China had swept in to help Greece financially during its public debt crisis, with Chinese companies investing billions in the nation at a time when most investors were spooked by its debt defaults. Now, Greece appears to be pulling away from that influence.
“It is our firm conviction that we need to develop alternative cooperation and alternative trade routes [to China].”
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