By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor
DAMASCUS, Syria – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met on Wednesday with four members of the French Parliament in the first such meeting since France closed its embassy in Syria in 2012 saying that the Assad regime had lost its legitimacy. The visit was not approved by the French Parlmement and the Foreign Ministry of France said it did not support the trip. The delegation was led by Gerard Bapt of the ruling Socialist Party and included members of the lower and upper houses of parliament. While the west has essentially cut off ties with the meeting seems to counter Paris’ official opinion on the Assad regime, having cut off ties in 2012 the regime has been a supporter of the opposition in Syria. Damascus Many European diplomats are saying privately it is time for direct communication with the Assad regime after four years of the regimes violent assault on the opposition and an ongoing civil war.
Syria’s state run news agency confirmed the meeting took place on Monday saying it focused on “challenges facing Arab and European regions, particularly with regard to terrorism.” State Media paraphrased President Assad as saying Syria “always encourages cooperation between states as the most effective way to stop the expansion of terrorism and eliminate it.” Sate media again quoted Assad saying “Coming here does not mean we back what’s happened,” he told BFM TV. “The objective is to understand Assad’s regime better, because we don’t believe we can fight Islamic State without Syria.” Since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 more than 200,000 people have been killed.
The Syrian state news agency reported that the meeting focused on the “developments and challenges facing the Arab and European areas, especially those pertaining to terrorism.” Also Wednesday, Syrian judicial officials reportedly agreed to release Louay Hussein, a leading opposition figure on bail. Hussein’s political movement claimed in a statement posted on its Facebook page. Hussein still faces charges of “weakening national sentiment and weakening the morale of the nation.” Hussein is a prominent Damascus-based writer and dissident. He spent years in jail in the 1980s. He was detained in November at the Syria-Lebanon border as he was attempting to leave the county to visit his family in Europe. It was the second time he was arrested since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011.
Human rights groups say the regime has detained tens of thousands of Syrians, even children, many of whom are likely killed in custody and are never to be seen again. Last year a United Nations Panel accused the Assad Regime of committing a crime against humanity though the systematic disappearing of Syrian civilians.
For more information please see:
Al Arabiya – Our French Lawmakers Meet Assad In Syria – 25 February 2015
ABC News – Syria’s Assad Meets With 4 French Lawmakers In Damascus – 25 February 2015
The Daily Star: Lebanon – French Lawmakers Hold Talks With Assad In Syria – 25 February 2015
Reuters – Syria’s Assad Meets French Lawmakers – 25 February 2015
