ad

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Syria’s new interim gov’t spokesperson says plans to establish a fair justice system a priority.

Syria’s new rulers have pledged to create special tribunals for those who have “committed crimes against Syrians” under deposed President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, according to the interim government’s spokesman.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Obaid Arnaut said a key part of the new government’s mission as they usher in a “new era” is to re-establish people’s trust in the rule of law and the country’s judicial system.

This can only happen when those who have detained and tortured hundreds of thousands of Syrians across al-Assad’s notorious prisons are brought to justice, he said.

“By holding criminals accountable, we aim to heal the deep wounds inflicted upon our society and pave the way for a more just and equitable future,” Arnaut said.

The government’s top priorities include reforming state institutions that have been tainted with corruption. Employees who have “committed crimes and harmed the Syrian population will be dismissed and held accountable” as well, Arnaut said.

The new rulers will, however, prioritise those who have been “dedicated, professional, and loyal to their country”.

Seeking the expertise of Syrians from all walks of life, and from all ethnic and religious backgrounds, Arnaut said the new government is committed to “revitalise our country”.

“Job vacancies will be open to all. We need to unite our efforts to build the country,” he said.

“This new state will focus on rebuilding infrastructure and strengthening the economy both internally and externally.”

Security a ‘priority’

Arnaut also demanded the lifting of sanctions that have been imposed on Syria for decades, saying these have “deeply affected the people”.

“Now that al-Assad has been toppled, the sanctions on the country must be lifted,” he said. “It is essential to lift the sanctions and allow Syrians to live as they dream.”

Syria’s war-battered economy has left many complaining that they can no longer afford to secure the most basic necessities, including food and shelter.

In a bid to quell widespread anger over the economic situation, Arnaut confirmed that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, would increase salaries of public servants by up to 400 percent.

The world has been carefully watching al-Sharaa, whose former al-Qaeda affiliate group is now the country’s most powerful force, to see if his new government can stabilise the country after 13 years of civil war.

Ever since al-Assad was toppled on December 8, Syria has witnessed hundreds of strikes by Israeli forces. Israeli tanks also moved deeper into Syria’s Golan Heights in a bid to create a “buffer zone” along the Israeli-annexed area – a move that has been slammed by several countries and the United Nations.

When asked about how the new government intends to handle the security of the country, Arnaut reiterated security is a priority.

“Our focus is on security, with our primary task being the preservation of properties,’ he said.

Regarding Israel’s repeated attacks, Arnaut said the new government’s approach “will be outlined in the near future”, without providing more details.

“People are angry and think that the regime has been replaced by the Israeli aggression. I currently have no further details on this matter,” he said. “Our primary goal is to ensure Syria is safe from any external threats.”

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders insisted on Thursday that no decisions can be taken about the future of war-ravaged Ukraine without its consent or behind the backs of its partners in Europe, barely a month before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Ukraine’s position is precarious more than 1,000 days into the war. Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield, pushing the front line gradually westward despite suffering heavy casualties. Ukraine’s energy network is in tatters and military recruits are hard to find.

In a show of solidarity at a summit in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, many EU leaders repeated a variation of what has become a common mantra — nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about security in Europe without Europeans.

Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20 having promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly and talked up his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many Europeans are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine.

The other big worry is that Putin will just use any interregnum to rearm and cause more strife.

Rumors are swirling in Europe about possible peace talks in early 2025, and whether European peacekeepers might be needed to enforce any settlement, but the leaders are trying to keep a lid on speculation about what they are prepared to do, so as not to tip their hand to Russia.

The priority now, they say, must be to strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that it’s important to “ensure long-term aid to Ukraine – it must be clear that we are prepared to enable support as long as it is needed.” Air defense, artillery and ammunition are high on the list, he told reporters.

Asked about Trump, Scholz said that his impression from talking to the president-elect “is that good cooperation between Europe and the U.S. is possible.” He said that “the principle is always: no decisions over Ukrainians’ heads, and that of course means over those of the European states.”

Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden had a similar message.

“We need to stand with Ukraine, and every step … needs to be taken with Ukraine and in the presence of the European Union. The future of Ukraine is decided in Europe and not elsewhere,” he said.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof underlined that Ukraine must be the country that “determines under what conditions talks can possibly take place. And it is not for us to talk about that. At the moment, Ukraine has not yet indicated that they are prepared to do so.”

It’s difficult to predict what Trump might do, and whether history might be a reliable guide.

Under his previous presidency, in 2020, the United States inked a deal on a military withdrawal from Afghanistan directly with the strongest player — the Taliban insurgents —mostly playing down the concerns of the Afghan government and president.

The chaotic exit in 2021, finally ordered by U.S. President Joe Biden, humiliated Washington and its allies in NATO as the Afghan security forces they had trained for years and invested billions in collapsed and the Taliban swept to power.

In Ukraine, the 27-nation EU has provided at least as much support – more than 180 billion euros ($187 billion) since Russia began its full-fledged invasion almost three years ago – as the United States.

But while the world’s biggest trading bloc can probably continue to prop up Ukraine’s ravaged economy, the EU is almost certainly unlikely to be able provide the military backing that the country’s armed forces would require to prevail.

“From the beginning of next year, we need very much unity between the United States and EU, and countries of Europe,” Zelenskyy told reporters at the summit. “Only together the United States and Europe can stop Putin and save Ukraine.”

“It’s very difficult to support Ukraine without American help,” he said.

___

Raf Casert in Brussels, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report.