International Conference in Paris Aims to Stabilize Syria's Fragile Transition

Syria's foreign minister will attend a key international conference in Paris, aimed at supporting the country's transition following Bashar al-Assad's overthrow. The meeting gathers regional and Western powers to coordinate aid and security efforts, discuss sanctions, and address transitional justice, in the face of ongoing regional instability.

Syria's foreign minister is set to attend a pivotal international conference in Paris on Thursday, bringing together regional and Western powers in a bid to shield the country during its fragile transition amid persistent regional instability.

Leading a delegation, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani embarks on the first visit to the European Union since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow. This trip follows an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to Syria's UN-sanctioned President Ahmed al-Sharaa. A French official indicated that the Paris meeting aims to create a 'protective bubble' around the Syria crisis, giving the country vital time to resolve internal issues, while deterring destabilizing actors.

The conference, attended by regional ministers from countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Lebanon, alongside Western partners, focuses on coordinating peaceful transition efforts to secure Syria's sovereignty. Though aiming for diplomatic coordination, the United States will only make a low-level appearance. Discussions will also cover transitional justice and the fight against impunity, while sanction lifts and compromises in maritime talks remain on the table, despite Cyprus and Greece's reservations.