A News Agency

Ahmed el-Shara, head of Syria's interim government, met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Wednesday. Macron emphasized the importance of protecting all ethnic minorities in multi-ethnic Syria.

El-Shara came to power after his rebel group ousted Bashar al-Assad last year, but a wave of brutal reprisals against minorities such as Alawites and Druze cast a shadow over his early months in office. About 1,700 people were killed in a wave of violence in Syria’s coastal regions in March.

Macron has been criticized for welcoming el-Shara due to his violent jihadist past. However, Macron believes that engaging in dialogue with the new Syrian government is necessary and that the possibility of lifting sanctions imposed during the Assad regime should remain open.

Macron stressed that as a condition for the gradual easing of sanctions, el-Shara's regime must do everything it can to protect all ethnic groups in Syria and bring those responsible for revenge killings to justice.

At a joint press conference with Macron, el-Shara confirmed that Syria is currently engaged in indirect talks with Israel to reduce tensions between the two countries. Israel occupied southern Syria after Assad’s ousting, partly to protect the country’s Druze minority.

Macron said he does not believe Israeli strikes on Syria serve Israel’s security interests. “You cannot ensure your country’s security by violating the territorial integrity of your neighbors,” he said.