Elysée Palace: Macron hopes through his meeting with the religious leader to assist in building a free and stable Syria that respects its people's components.

The French Press Agency reported today that President Macron will discuss with the Syrian President the prospects of economic cooperation, especially in the fields of energy and aviation. The discussions will also include important issues such as the security challenges facing the new Syrian government, the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian sovereignty, and relations with neighboring countries, especially Lebanon. According to a source in the Ministry of Information, the importance of the visit was emphasized as it is the first to a European country after the fall of the old regime, contributing to the development of the country's foreign relations and the restoration of its status. Macron hopes to assist in building a "free, stable, and sovereign Syria that respects all components of Syrian society." The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, stressed the importance of engaging in dialogue with the transitional authorities in Syria, warning that failure to do so would be irresponsible towards the French people and would pave the way for ISIS. Le Drian also highlighted the interconnectedness of combating terrorism, controlling migrant flows, drug trafficking, and the future of Lebanon with the situation in Syria. The Syrian President aims to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria since the Assad regime, which have drained the economy after a 14-year war leaving 90% of its population living below the poverty line, according to UN reports. France supports lifting some European sanctions and believes that US sanctions are burdening the transitional authorities hindering the reconstruction process and attracting foreign investments.