Damascus, July7, (dpa/GNA) – A visit by French President, Emmanuel Macron to Syria, the first by a European head of state since the end of the civil war, coincided with two explosions in the capital Damascus on Tuesday.
At least 18 people, including four police officers, were injured, when two improvised explosive devices detonated in Damascus, the Interior Ministry said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said an initial blast was followed within seconds by a more powerful explosion, both near the hotel where Macron is reportedly staying during his visit to Syria.
The Elysée Palace said Macron was unharmed, and continued his programme of events as scheduled. According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, cited by the official SANA news agency, the explosions occurred outside the security perimeter established for the French president’s visit, and posed no direct threat to Macron.
The Interior Ministry said security forces, discovered the two bombs, and specialist units then began preparations to defuse them.
However, both devices exploded while the work was in progress. Specialist teams subsequently carried out searches and implemented security measures in the surrounding area.
Initial investigations suggest that one of the devices had been placed in a car parked at the side of the road, and the second in a rubbish bin. Investigations are still ongoing to identify those involved.
Macron arrived in Syria on Monday evening, becoming the first EU leader to visit the country since the end of the Syrian civil war.
In Damascus, he met Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and representatives of civil society, and participated in an economic forum on the reconstruction of Syria.
Macron and al-Sharaa pledged to open a new chapter in relations between their countries, and launched a broad reconstruction and investment partnership “We open our doors to an equal partnership with France as a cultural bridge between East and West,” al-Sharaa said.
The process of exchanging ambassadors between Damascus and Paris had begun, signalling the full restoration of diplomatic relations after France closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012, he said. “There are many challenges facing Syria, but there are also opportunities for our companies,” Macron said. “France will always stand by the Syrian people.”
France will return assets worth more than €50 million ($57 million) linked to Syria’s ousted al-Assad regime, Macron said. The assets were illegally acquired by a member of the al-Assad family, he said.
According to SANA, a comprehensive package of letters of intent, memoranda, and agreements between France and Syria was signed during the visit.
Macron has backed international support for Syria’s reconstruction, while arguing that political reforms and accountability remain essential to rebuilding long-term relations with Europe.
GNA