Reuters and Europa Press
La Jornada Newspaper
Wednesday, December 11, 2024, p. 22
Washington. The United Nations (UN) yesterday recalled the validity of the right to request asylum, after a large number of European countries announced the suspension of applications submitted by Syrian citizens after the fall of Bashar al Assad’s government.
Spain announced that it will continue to process asylum applications normally.
Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, reiterated that his country fully supports the political transition process in Syria and wants it to lead to a credible, inclusive and non-sectarian government that meets international standards of transparency and accountability.
After the fall of Al Assad, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Austria suspended asylum applications from Syrians (around 85,000 of the more than 131,000 that are awaiting a response), indicated the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The European Commission pointed out that this decision is the responsibility of the states of the European Union (EU), but warned that each file must be examined and that any return must be voluntary, safe and dignifiedconditions that do not currently exist in Syria. It is important that when they make these decisions they comply with EU rules said the community spokesperson, Stefan de Keersmaecker.
The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said European nations should not rush to repatriate refugees to the country, which remains mired in disarray, with conflict still active in the northeast and with Israel bombing targets in Syrian territory. The situation in Syria remains fluidand although many Syrians are eager to return to their homes, There are still subsistence problems. The humanitarian situation is disastrous. The economy has collapsedhe added.
At the same time, Pedersen stated that The reality so far is that Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) and other armed groups have been sending good messages to the Syrian people, messages of unity and inclusion.and that there have been signs that they give guarantees.
What we need now is for statements to be followed by actions over the coming days and weeks.he stated, thereby opening the door for the UN to consider the possibility of removing the pro-Turkish HTS from its list of terrorist organizations.
For his part, Blinken pointed out that Washington will recognize and fully support a future Syrian government that results from this process and called on the new government to maintain clear commitments to fully respect minority rights, facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to all those in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that any weapons arsenal chemical or biological materials is safely stored and destroyed.
Meanwhile, the pro-Iranian Shiite Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which supported Al Assad’s government, noted that the new leadership in Damascus “must take a stance against the Israeli occupation and condemned the bombings of Tel Aviv in Syria.
