BRUSSELS, December 16. /TASS/. For the EU to open a dialogue with the new Syrian authorities, the country must rid itself of any Russian bases, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said during a press conference after the EU ministerial meeting.
According to the official, this issue was discussed by the EU ministers, and "many foreign ministers emphasized that it should be a condition for the new leadership to eliminate Russian influence [in Syria]."
She promised to convey this viewpoint to the new Syrian authorities during upcoming diplomatic meetings. She noted that the EU envoy, who is still in Beirut, will work on building relations with the new Syrian authorities.
"The aim is to be in contact with the country’s new authorities and to convey the messages to the group about how they intend to govern, so that we understand all this," she said, referring to the complicated situation in Syria.
According to the official, the EU expects Damascus to observe "territorial integrity, sovereignty, accountability, but also inclusiveness of the government" and take into account the "minorities and especially women’s rights."
She also opined that Iran and Russia "should not have a place in Syria’s future," and that the EU must be the "biggest humanitarian aid donor" for the new authorities in Damascus. She added that the EU intends to hold the 9th international donor conference at the beginning of 2025 in Brussels.