Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Paris on Wednesday for his first European visit since coming to power after his Islamist forces ousted longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad last December, local AFP reported on May 7.
The Syrian leader will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss several bilateral and regional issues, including reconstruction, economic cooperation, and security challenges, during his first international outing since becoming president of the war-torn nation.
The Syrian leader's agenda includes discussing economic cooperation, particularly in the energy and aviation sectors, according to a source from the Syrian Ministry of Information.
The visit follows French shipping giant CMA CGM signing a 30-year contract with Syria last week to develop and operate the Latakia port in a deal witnessed by al-Sharaa.
Discussions will also cover security challenges facing the new Syrian government, repeated Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty, and relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Lebanon.
The source emphasised the significance of this visit as "the first to a European country since the fall of the former regime, which will help develop the country's foreign relations and restore its position."
In a scene in central Paris before reaching officials al-Sharaa’s motorcade was swamped by supporters of the new Turkish-backed regime, according to video on social media.
While in Paris, Al-Sharaa met with Farid Al-Madhan, known as "Caesar," on the sidelines of their visit to the French Republic, who was responsible for leaking images from the former regime’s prisons.
The Élysée Palace stated that President Macron "will reaffirm France's support for building a new Syria that is free, stable and sovereign, respecting all components of Syrian society," adding that the meeting falls "within the framework of France's historic commitment to Syrians who aspire to peace and democracy."
Macron is expected to urge the Syrian president to punish those responsible for "violations" that have damaged the image of the new authorities since Assad's overthrow, particularly following sectarian clashes in March that resulted in 1,700 deaths, mostly Alawites in western Syria.
