Syria’s new leadership should be legitimised “by what it does and not by what it may promise”, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos told the Cyprus News Agency upon his arrival to the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU (FAC) that is being held in Brussels on Monday.

Responding also to a question on the EU’s and Cyprus’s position when it comes to the presence of Russian military bases in Syria, Kombos noted that “the position of the European Union is that the influence of third countries, including of course Russia, must be limited”.

“We believe that we must first of all be sure that, what we have to deal with in relation (the current state of affairs in Syria) is something that can be legitimised by what it does and not by what it may promise” he noted.

“It is therefore extremely important not to allow any third country or combination of third countries to determine the course of Syria, a course that would be based on extremism or exclusion or a deviation from international law” he added, pointing out that the EU “has the toolbox to do this”.

“As a Member State, we want to have a positive agenda with regard to Syria, but at the same time this must be on the basis of reversibility and the conditions that the European Union will set” he stressed.

Earlier, speaking upon arrival, Kombos said that one of the elements that need to be ensured is Syria’s “full commitment to public international law in all its thematic manifestations and expressions, especially as regards relations with neighbouring countries”.

In his initial statement upon arrival, Kombos said that now there is “a possibility of optimism” and a “fragile situation”, stressing that “we need to seize the opportunity to make sure that we make the maximum out of the recent developments”.

Kombos underlined the importance that the EU take “a leading role by fully supporting and actively supporting the implementation of the Gaza agreement, by providing a comprehensive support scheme for the new leadership in Lebanon, financial, technocratic and political, and also by being pragmatic on Syria”. Pragmatism, he said, consists of focusing on actions and not promises.

“We remain fully vigilant about what is being said and what is being done, and, at the same time, we try and make sure that there is pre-emption of extremism, there is an inclusive political process, with full protection of the rights of minorities and also full commitment to public international law in all its thematic manifestations and expressions, especially as regards relations with neighbouring countries,” he noted.

“We keep an open mind in relation to Syria,” he said, adding that “we want to be constructive” which is why Cyprus says “yes to engagement”. Therefore, he stressed, “we want to make sure that Syria will have an opportunity to re-enter the international community. We want to make sure that there is engagement, but at the same time, issuing a carte blanche is not an option”.

Responding to a question in English on whether there are concerns regarding the influence of third countries, Kombos said that the EU wants to be sure “that we have a seat at the table and we want to be able to leverage our financial contributions in relation to what would be happening in Syria” stressing that “there should be full respect of Syria and its sovereignty”.

“There should be a snapback mechanism in the event that there is a stepping back from the promises that have been made. So there is a need for a road map and the European Union is in the best position to provide that roadmap and that support” he added.

Finally, asked to comment on Trump’s position that Gazans should be moved to neighbouring countries, Kombos said that “EU policy is perfectly clear on this issue” and that the “displacement of the Palestinians cannot be something that the European Union will accept or support”.

Source: Parikiaki.com