KEY POINTS
- G7 leaders to back an “inclusive and non-sectarian” government in Syria.
- The new govt suspends the constitution and parliament for three months during the transition.
- Transitional government vows institutional protection and legal accountability for crimes.
- G7 endorses a political transition aligned with UN Resolution 2254.
ROME: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) powers said Thursday they were ready to support the transition to an “inclusive and non-sectarian” government in Syria after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.
In a statement, they called for the protection of human rights, including those of women and minorities, while emphasising “the importance of holding the Assad regime accountable for its crimes”.
Assad fled Syria after a lightning offensive led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and its allies, which brought a sudden end to five decades of the Assad family’s rule.
“After decades of atrocities committed by the Assad regime, we stand with the people of Syria,” said the G7, which comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United States and Italy.
They urged those seeking to govern now to “prevent the collapse of state institutions” and “ensure the conditions for (the) safe and dignified voluntary return to Syria of all those who were forced to flee”.
The G7 leaders — who are due to hold a virtual meeting on Friday — called on all parties to “preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity, and respect its independence and sovereignty”.
They affirmed their “full support for an inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process in the spirit of the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 2254” of 2015, which endorsed a peace process in Syria.
“We stand ready to support a transition process under this framework that leads to credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance that ensures respect for the rule of law, universal human rights, including women’s rights, the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities, transparency and accountability,” the statement said.
“The G7 will work with and fully support a future Syrian government that abides by those standards and results from that process.”
Meanwhile, Syria’s new government spokesman told AFP on Thursday the country’s constitution and parliament would be suspended for the duration of the three-month transition period.
“A judicial and human rights committee will be established to examine the constitution and then introduce amendments,” spokesman Obaida Arnaout told AFP.
The current constitution dates back to 2012 and does not specify Islam as the state religion.
An alliance of groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized the capital Damascus on Sunday, sending Assad fleeing into exile.
On Tuesday, they named Mohammed al-Bashir, who headed the “Salvation Government” in Idlib, as the country’s transitional prime minister until March 1.
Arnaout said a meeting would be held on Tuesday “between Salvation Government ministers and the former ministers” of Assad’s administration to carry out the transfer of power.
“This transitional period will last three months,” he added in an interview with AFP. “Our priority is to preserve and protect institutions.”
Speaking at the state television headquarters, Arnaout pledged that they would institute “the rule of law”.
“All those who committed crimes against the Syrian people will be judged in accordance with the law,” he added.
Asked about religious and personal freedoms, he said “we respect religious and cultural diversity in Syria”, adding that they would remain unchanged.
