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Madrid – The minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Government of Spain, José Manuel Albares, has indicated that Spain is willing to support the lifting of EU sanctions against Syria as long as the new authorities of the country, emerged after the defeat of Bashar al Assad‘s regime, respect a series of red lines, starting with the rights of women and minorities.

This was indicated just three days before traveling to Damascus to meet with the new authorities headed by Ahmed al Shara, the leader of the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) who led the offensive alongside rebel forces that overthrew Al Assad.

Albares has considered that in Syria a “stage of hope and opportunities” is opening, but he has also said he is aware of the “threats” looming over the country.

In this regard, he has indicated that Spain is willing to support the new authorities “to achieve, finally, a free, stable Syria that transmits stability to the Middle East and that is inclusive”.

But he has also made it clear that he will convey to the new authorities that there are a series of “red lines” that they must meet. These include, he specified “that a military movement” such as HTS, which has its roots in the former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, should transform into “a political movement”.

They also include that in the future “the rights of women and also the rights of minorities, whether ethnic and religious,” are respected and that the “territorial integrity of Syria” is guaranteed and that Syria is “free of interference and foreign interferences”.

“If this is fulfilled, Spain and the European Union will be on Syria’s side,” he assured, anticipating that for this the Government is willing to provide humanitarian aid and also to “review the sanctions that were imposed on Al Assad‘s regime for very serious human rights violations”.

Albares celebrated that the new authorities have emptied the prisons of the previous regime, ensuring that this “gives us hope”. “If that is the path, we will support them” but only if “those red lines are met”, he pointed out.

Last Friday, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, proposed taking steps in the “gradual relief” of sanctions against Syria if “tangible advances” for democratic transition occur on the ground.

For its part, Germany has put forward a preliminary document for a new EU approach to Damascus that involves precisely the gradual removal of economic, financial, and transportation sanctions, in addition to promoting rapprochement with the new authorities, proposing that the United Nations lift sanctions against the jihadist group HTS. It should be remembered that both the EU and the United States consider HTS as a terrorist organization. (January 13)

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