EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said Monday the bloc would raise the issue of Russian bases with Syria’s new leadership, arguing Moscow has no place in the country’s future.
Russia, along with Iran, were the key backers of ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and propped him up militarily during the brutal civil war.
“Russia and Iran also should not have a place in Syria’s future,” Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
“Many foreign ministers took this up to say that, you know, it should be a condition for the new leadership that they also get rid of the Russian influence.”
Russia has two main bases in Syria — one naval and the other airforce — that serve as key hubs for bolstering Moscow’s sway in the region.
“It is a base where they also conduct their activities towards Africa and the southern neighbours. So this is definitely of worry to the European security as well,” Kallas said.
“We will raise this issue with the leadership.”
European countries are scrambling to work out how to engage with the new authorities in Damascus, spearheaded by Islamists Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The EU’s top diplomat on Syria on Monday travelled to Damascus and held his first meetings with the new powers since they ended five decade of Assad family rule, Kallas said.
Western powers are wary of HTS, given that the group had its roots in Al-Qaeda and is listed as a terror group by a number of governments.
Kallas said key conditions for cooperation included “inclusiveness of government, taking into account especially the minorities and women’s rights” and shunning extremism.
Syria’s economy has been hit by punishing EU sanctions during the war and HTS is also blacklisted due to its ties to Al-Qaeda.
Kallas said the EU was looking at whether to start lifting its punitive measures “when we see positive steps, not the words, but actual steps and deeds from the new leadership of Syria”.
“We need to have the plan ready when we see the steps, then we also are ready to act positively,” she said.
International players have expressed cautious optimism as the nascent authorities in Damascus have vowed to protect all religious sects and include others in governing.
The EU has been one of the biggest donors of humanitarian aid for Syria in recent years and has organised annual donor conferences to increase support for the people of the war-torn nation.
Kallas said Brussels was working to hold a new donors conference following Assad fall, but did not set a date.
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