Czech foreign minister expresses cautious optimism in response to Assad’s fall in Syria
Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has collapsed after 13 years of conflict, bringing to a close over 50 years of rule by the al-Assad family. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria has been welcomed by the West – including Czechia. But what exactly are Czech political representatives saying about the developments?
Syrian opposition fighters have announced that the country is now “liberated” following their takeover of the capital, where they reported that President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country.
Celebrations broke out in Damascus and across various regions, including the border with Lebanon, as many displaced Syrians chose to return to their homes.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský commented on the developments following a meeting of the ministry's Crisis Staff on Sunday:
“Islamists from the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) are still designated as a terrorist organization by the EU, so we do not plan on having contact with the group at the moment. I would also like to again stress that the only path to peace for Syria is a political resolution consistent with UN Resolution 2254 from 2015.”
Minister Lipavský further emphasized that there is a need to wait and see how the forces will be distributed after Assad’s fall, what the transitional government will be like, and if further violence or fighting breaks out that could trigger a migration wave.
“Our general priority is to prevent another wave of refugees and work to stabilize the situation in the region. Cooperation with our European partners will therefore be key.”
The foreign ministry announced that all Czech diplomats have been temporarily evacuated from Damascus, along with three Czech citizens who have been relocated to Lebanon. The foreign minister added that three Czechs are currently registered in Syria via the ministry's Drozd travel system.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala commented on the developments and said we can't know the trajectory of the situation yet.
“The situation is complicated, which reflects the situation in the Middle East at large. For Czechia – and for all of Europe – there are some security risks that we have to take into account. On the other hand, the situation can also be an opportunity for better living conditions to develop for Syrians than under the Assad regime. So, some Syrians might also choose to return to Syria.”
Others have similarly warned about the potential political ramifications of further instability in the region. For example, MEP Veronika Vrecionová highlighted possible repercussions for Europe, such as a surge in refugees and the danger of Syria becoming a hub for Islamist extremists. She stressed that Europe needs to prepare itself for considerable new security challenges. Opposition leader Radek Vondráček warned that the transition might bring about instability, noting extremist connections within certain rebel groups.
Pavel Fischer, chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that such a wave would inevitably include groups that could pose significant security risks, including the potential spread of terrorism. He stressed the importance of stabilizing the situation in Syria and improving living conditions to prevent such outcomes.
