UPDATE - Europe calls for unity, stability in Syria after fall of Assad regime

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – The European Union and major European countries called for unity and stability in Syria on Sunday following the fall of Syria’s Assad regime.

"The cruel Assad dictatorship has collapsed,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X.

"Europe is ready to support safeguarding national unity and rebuilding a Syrian state that protects all minorities," she added.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also commented on X.

“The end of Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development,” she said.

Saying the fall of the Assad regime also showed the weakness of Iran and Russia, the regime’s supporters, she added: “Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners, in Syria and in the region.”

Also commenting on the development, France called it “a historic day.”

“The Syrians have suffered too much. Bashar al-Assad leaves a country drained of blood, emptied of a large part of its population who were forced into exile, were massacred, tortured, and bombed with chemical weapons by the regime and its allies. France pays tribute to all the victims of this regime,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

France urged Syrians to seize the moment to heal divisions and build a peaceful future, emphasizing the importance of unity and reconciliation.

Speaking to Sky News, UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: "What we need to see is a political resolution in line with UN resolutions. We need to see civilians and infrastructure protected. Far too many people have lost their lives. We need stability in that region.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also welcomed the fall of Bashar al-Assad, pointing out that his regime’s brutal oppression had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions to flee Syria, with many finding refuge in Germany.

“The end of Assad's rule over Syria is therefore good news. What matters now is that law and order are quickly restored in Syria. All religious communities, all minorities must enjoy protection now and in the future,” he added.

Similarly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on X for an inclusive political process in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime, stressing the need to protect ethnic and religious minorities.

“The people of Syria deserve a better future. They have been through terrible things. An entire generation has grown up under the threat of constant displacement, war, hardship and humanitarian deprivation,” she added.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made an appeal to the parties for the protection of civilians and minorities, public broadcaster RAI reported.

He also stressed the need to avoid a new migration crisis which could be caused by instability in Syria.

“We are waiting for the Doha meeting to make progress towards a political solution,” Tajani added.

Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter said: "After 53 years of the Assad dictatorship, a new era has begun for Syrians. There is hope after decades of fear and oppression. There is now room for a democratic system in which all citizens are represented and minorities are protected."

Romania’s Foreign Ministry stressed "the need to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of Syria."

"Protection of fundamental rights for all citizens in #Syria, including minorities, must be insured. Romania emphasizes the urgent need to resume the political process based on UNSCR 2254," it added, referring to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.

After a period of relative calm, clashes between Assad regime forces and anti-regime groups reignited on Nov. 27 in rural areas west of Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria.

Over 10 days, opposition forces launched a lightning offensive, capturing key cities and then, on Sunday, the capital, Damascus. The rapid advance, supported by defecting military units, led to the collapse of the Assad regime after 13 years of civil war.