Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Xavier Bettel, speaking during the UN General Assembly on 23 February 2024. / © AFP
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel called the dramatic ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a pivotal moment for Syria's future, emphasising the need for international support to ensure civilian well-being.
RTL on Sunday spoke to Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel to get a first reaction on the dramatic toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was forced to flee the country after rebels took over Damascus in the early morning hours.
Bettel said that it is important to keep monitoring the situation and did not hold back on criticism for the ousted president: "Bashar al-Assad was and is a brutal dictator responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, who used chemical weapons against his own population, and who drove out millions of refugees."
Here, Bettel drew attention to those that fled to Luxembourg, saying they at least managed to find a "safer home" in the Grand Duchy.
The foreign minister also argued that Syria now faces a pivotal moment after the fall of the Assad regime, with numerous "challenges" – but also "choices" – on the horizon.
Finally, Bettel elaborated on ongoing peace negotiations at the UN level, with the international community required to help ensure the well-being of civilians.
"Mr Assad was a bad actor, we all know that", Bettel noted while drawing attention to the level of uncertainty around Syria's immediate future.
