The EU has taken the first step to directly engage with HTS, the Syrian rebel force, while maintaining its designation of a terrorist organisation.
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00:00Western diplomats are beginning to take steps to ease relations with Syria as it starts
00:07its political transition.
00:10On Monday, EU foreign chief Kayakalas announced that the EU will send a diplomat to Damascus
00:16to establish contact with the new Syrian leaders.
00:20So we will also discuss today in the foreign affairs council how we engage with the new
00:26leadership of Syria and on what level we engage with the new leadership.
00:31And of course, what more steps are we willing to take if we see that Syria goes to the right
00:37direction.
00:39Her comments come as the UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, met with rebel leader
00:44Ahmed al-Shara in Damascus.
00:47He stressed a need for increased humanitarian assistance to Syria and an end to sanctions.
00:54And then, of course, is the whole question about economic recuperation.
00:58We need to see that this is fixed treaty.
01:01We will hopefully see a quick end to sanctions so that you can see really rallying around
01:07building up Syria again.
01:09UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed Kalas in establishing diplomatic contact with al-Shara's
01:15HTS rebel group, although he added that the group is still considered a prescribed organization
01:21by the UK.
01:23Both Lammy and Kalas called for the need for an inclusive government in Syria.