EU foreign policy chief Kallas: legitimate concerns about Syrian sectarian violence

Confirmation hearing of Kaja Kallas before the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, in Brussels

FILE PHOTO: Kaja Kallas, designate for the post of the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, faces a confirmation hearing before the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, in Brussels, Belgium November 12, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File photo

Source: REUTERS

By Lili Bayer

There are legitimate concerns about the risks of sectarian violence in Syria and a resurgence of extremism in the country, the European Union's new foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday, while pointing to positive early signals.

Syria's new interim leader announced on Tuesday he was taking charge of the country as caretaker prime minister with the backing of the former rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad three days ago.

Kallas also told a European Parliament committee session that "the new people are judged by their deeds".

"It is very, very early to tell whether this goes to the right direction," she said, adding that "the first signals are good, but we are not rushing into any kind of arrangements yet, if we don't have certainty".

European Union foreign ministers are expected to discuss the situation when they meet in Brussels on Dec. 16.

Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, said the fall of Assad represented a blow for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran.

"For Putin and the Iranian regime, the fall of Assad is a huge blow for both," said Kallas.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters