Giorigios Gerapetritis, the Greek foreign minister, warned Europe and America to keep a “close eye” on Syria’s ruling Islamist party that is trying to win acceptance from the West.

Gerapetritis argued that Syria has a large population of Orthodox Christians. He also urged the international community to demand the inclusion of religious minorities in government or leave sanctions as they are.

In an interview last week, he said that all ethnic and religious minority groups should be involved in governance.

The release of sanctions must be done gradually. He added that we should “see how things go” and any sanctions lifted must be “reversible.”

Europe and the U.S. must keep a watchful eye on Syria. “We need to encourage this new regime to adhere to international law.”

The clashes that have taken place between Syria’s new ruling force, HTS, and those who are loyal to Bashar al-Assad’s ousted regime have left hundreds dead.

The death toll has been estimated differently. According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 1,00 people were killed on Sunday. This included 700 civilians. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported on Sunday that the government had captured and killed militants and 327 civilians. Assad’s loyalists killed 148.

The bloodiest interne clash has occurred since Assad’s ouster in early December.

According to the United Nations, fighting began on Thursday, after Assad’s loyalists ambushed the government forces in Latakia Province.

In a recent statement, Volker Turk, the U.N. Human Rights Commissioner, said: “We have received reports that entire families are being murdered, including children, women and non-combat (surrendered) fighters. The killing of civilians along the coast in northern Syria’s northwest must stop immediately.

The Syrian transitional President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said the violence was an “expected challenge” and urged national unity.

He said, “We can all live together if we preserve our national unity and peace at home.”

Russia and the U.S. requested that the U.N. Security Council meet in private on Monday to talk about the violence occurring in Syria.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham began as an al Qaeda branch but split from it in 2016. The Biden administration placed a bounty of $10 million on al-Sharaa’s head in December.

Al-Sharaa, a soft-spoken al-Sharaa who claims to be a proponent of education for women and believes that Syria should not become like Afghanistan.

Gerapetritis expressed his “concerns” over the Blue Homeland Doctrine of Turkey, which has led to incursions in Greek waters. This expression is used to describe Turkey’s claims on large areas of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. These are largely a result of large natural gas deposits off the coasts of Cyprus.

He said: “We’re concerned because the Blue Homeland Doctrine is against international law.” “Greece is a country that has always adhered to international law and especially the international law of seas.”

Geraptetritis stated that relations between Greece and Turkey have improved over the past few years. Turkish incursions into Greek airspace have “minimized”, and both countries are working together to combat illegal immigration.

There must be an important step taken in the limitation of maritime zones. He said, “We’re still not there.”

For decades, Greece and Turkey have been at odds despite being both NATO members. However, relations between the two countries have recently improved.

I have to stress that Greece is an important pillar for stability both in the Eastern Mediterranean region and the wider area.

He also praised Greece’s expanding relationship with India and viewed his country as the gateway to India’s Middle East-Europe Corridor.

It was framed as a counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative whereby the CCP seeks influence and access across the world by funding development and trade projects.

“This major plan is, I think, an excellent project,” said Gerapetritis. “To diversify the routes concerning transport, concerning data, concerning energy. We are very like-minded with the United States when it comes to foreign and security policy.”

China helped Greece during the public debt crisis. Chinese firms invested billions of dollars in Greece at a moment when investors were scared by defaults. Greece now appears to be moving away from this influence.

We are firmly convinced that alternative routes of trade and cooperation [with China] must be developed.