EU takes first step to make contact with Syrian rebels, Kallas announces

The EU has taken the first step to directly engage with HTS, the Syrian rebel force, while maintaining its designation of a terrorist organisation.

Transcript

00:00Western diplomats are beginning to take steps to ease relations with Syria as it starts

00:07its political transition.

00:10On Monday, EU foreign chief Kayakalas announced that the EU will send a diplomat to Damascus

00:16to establish contact with the new Syrian leaders.

00:20So we will also discuss today in the foreign affairs council how we engage with the new

00:26leadership of Syria and on what level we engage with the new leadership.

00:31And of course, what more steps are we willing to take if we see that Syria goes to the right

00:37direction.

00:39Her comments come as the UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, met with rebel leader

00:44Ahmed al-Shara in Damascus.

00:47He stressed a need for increased humanitarian assistance to Syria and an end to sanctions.

00:54And then, of course, is the whole question about economic recuperation.

00:58We need to see that this is fixed treaty.

01:01We will hopefully see a quick end to sanctions so that you can see really rallying around

01:07building up Syria again.

01:09UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed Kalas in establishing diplomatic contact with al-Shara's

01:15HTS rebel group, although he added that the group is still considered a prescribed organization

01:21by the UK.

01:23Both Lammy and Kalas called for the need for an inclusive government in Syria.