A Syrian businessman close to the government was present in Paris in March to participate in a meeting devoted to economic relations between the France and Arab countries. A visit that...The mysterious visit of a Syrian businessman to Paris The flag and empty chair of the Syrian delegate in the room where the Arab League foreign ministers' meeting was held in Cairo in 2019 (illustration image). © REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh Text by: Nicolas Falez Follow 3 min A Syrian businessman close to the government was present in Paris in March to participate in a meeting devoted to economic r

The mysterious visit of a Syrian businessman to Paris

The flag and empty chair of the Syrian delegate in the room where the Arab League foreign ministers' meeting was held in Cairo in 2019 (illustration image). © REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Text by: Nicolas Falez Follow

3 min

A Syrian businessman close to the government was present in Paris in March to participate in a meeting devoted to economic relations between the France and Arab countries. A visit that Damascus hastened to claim as "an important turning point". It took place against a backdrop of rapprochement between Bashar al-Assad's Syria and several of its Arab neighbors.

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The scene takes place on March 15 in Paris. The setting: the premises of Medef, the French employers' union. The organizer: the Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce, which for decades has been working to promote economic relations between Paris and Arab countries. The theme of the day: an "economic summit France-Arab countries" whose invitation documents specify that it was organized "under the high patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic".

So far, it is not surprising as trade ties are old and deep between the France and most countries in the Arab world. Photos of the event include familiar faces, including those of ambassadors from Middle Eastern countries stationed in Paris. But on these shots, we also distinguish the jovial smile of an amazing guest... The very official Syrian news agency Sana gives his name: his name is Mussan Nahhas and he represents the Damascus Chamber of Commerce.

And the Sana agency – which reflects the positions of Bashar al-Assad's government – delivers a very particular vision of the visit to Paris of this Syrian representative, speaking of "an important and major turning point in the return of Syrian relations with all". The Syrian state media added that in France, Mussan Nahhas spoke out to demand "the lifting of the unjust unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria".

A desire for normalization of relations by Damascus

Why was Mussan Nahhas invited to France, a country that broke off all diplomatic relations with Syria in 2011, in the midst of the repression of the uprising of part of the population by the Damascus regime? Contacted by RFI, the Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the March 15 event, did not respond to our requests. Still, the mysterious Syrian guest did not fail to be photographed alongside the president of Medef, Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, or the director general of the French industrial group Veolia.

Mussan Nahhas is not on the list of Syrians targeted by European sanctions, which distinguishes him from other business figures considered close to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. But according to the Syrian economic news site The Syria Report, Nahhas is also one of the leaders of the Syria-Iran Chamber of Commerce. In other words, it is perfectly aligned with the positions of Damascus and Tehran, close regional allies since Iran is militarily committed to the government of Bashar al-Assad.

The France, like the European Union, regularly reiterates that its firm position has not changed on Syria. What is evolving is the willingness of several Arab countries to reconnect with Damascus. The United Arab Emirates has been at the forefront for several years, but the movement has grown in recent weeks following the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey. Syria has been suspended from the Arab League since 2011 but the issue of its reintegration is expected to occupy discussions at the next summit of the League in May in Saudi Arabia. It is in this changing context that Mr. Nahhas' mysterious visit to Paris occurred, just in time to feed the narrative of normalization that the Damascus regime is currently developing.

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The mysterious visit of a Syrian businessman to Paris

The mysterious visit of a Syrian businessman to Paris

A desire for normalization of relations by Damascus

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