Britain and France have dismissed any suggestion of renewing a relationship with embattled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad despite sharing an enemy in the Islamic State.
Some members of the European Union (EU) have called on Britain, France and other members of the anti-IS coalition to re-establish relations with Assad in order to better destroy the threat of the Islamic State, which has recently threatened to expand its Caliphate to Rome.
However, in articles published in Le Monde and Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat, the foreign ministers of Britain and France rejected any ideas of a rapprochement with the Syrian dictator.
Assad has been on a mission to rehabilitate his image in recent weeks, accepting an interview with the BBC, denying his use of indescriminate weapons such as barrel bombs, and attempting to redefine his role as one of a man who can bring stability and order to the region.
Contrary to these claims, Philip Hammond and Laurent Fabius dismissed these claims, saying:
“In reality, Bashar represents injustice, disorder and terror. And we, France and the UK, say no to all three.”
The diplomats went on to say that any restoration of relations with Assad would likely end all hope of a peaceful transition to a democracy in Syria, and push moderate Syrians further towards extremist groups such as the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra.
They said:
“After 220,000 deaths and millions displaced, it is illusory to imagine that a majority of Syrians would accept to be ruled by the one who torments them,” Fabius and Hammond wrote.
“To end their hopes of a better future in a Syria without Assad would be to radicalise even more Syrians, push moderates towards extremism and consolidate a jihadist bastion in Syria.”
