Just over one week after the rebel take over Damascus and the fall of the Assad regime, states and institutions are jostling to send special envoys to the Syrian capital.
The key task is to open diplomatic channels with the new interim government led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham. This has sparked renewed interest in Brussels in appointing a special envoy to Syria.
The EU settled on Austrian national Christian Berger, who has worked for more than two decades at the European Commission as a senior Middle East expert. Mr Berger has been described as a seasoned diplomat with strong contacts in the region.
"He knows how to work with different actors in the region," said Hussein Baoumi, foreign policy advocacy officer at Amnesty International's European institutions office in Brussels. "He has worked with all the key players in Syria, in Israel and Turkey. Overall, he has good contacts with key players."
Head of EU mission in Egypt, Turkey and Jerusalem
Mr Berger was until recently EU ambassador to Egypt after a four-year mandate in the same role in Turkey. He previously led the Middle East and North Africa department at the European External Action Service, the EU's foreign affairs arm, in Brussels.
Between 2009 and 2011, Mr Berger led the EU mission in Jerusalem. His CV shows no direct experience in Syria, although he worked on the EU Commission's Syria desk for one year in 1999 and served as operations officer in the UN peacekeeping mission to the Golan heights in 1987.
Mr Berger was listed with the title "upcoming EU ambassador for Syria, European Union" as a participant to the Doha forum this month. On the EEAS website, he is listed as "principal adviser" to the service of the deputy secretary of general affairs.
His name was first reported by Italian newspaper Il Foglio on November 1, a few days after the EU Commission confirmed it was working on nominating a special envoy to Syria. This choice has yet to be officially confirmed.
Yet with the recent takeover of Damascus by rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, it remains unclear whether the nomination of a special envoy is still imminent. It will ultimately be decided by the EEAS's boss, Kaja Kallas, who took office on December 1 and was not involved in earlier discussions.
A major push over the summer saw eight EU countries nominate a diplomat to serve as focal point for the bloc's 27 member states in the region. Behind closed doors, some diplomats have said that it may have become unnecessary because the bloc has a charge d'affaires to Syria based in Beirut, Michael Ohnmacht, who regularly visits Damascus. He was sent to the Syrian capital on Monday by Ms Kallas to meet the rebels. EU countries are also in the process of sending their own representatives to Syria.
The bloc had cut ties with the Assad regime in May 2011 after human rights abuses against peaceful demonstrators. There are hopes that the ensuing civil war has come to an end with Mr Al Assad's departure.
Some EU countries are still pushing for a special envoy to Syria, although their mandate would have to be re-evaluated because of the HTS takeover. "It is something that is on the table," an EU official told reporters, speaking before a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Brussels on Monday.
The initial call to review relations with Syria had been led by Italy and Austria earlier this year and was widely viewed as an attempt to encourage refugees to return due to pressure from far-right politicians. But the EU official denied such reports. Discussions were "technical", they said, and included sanctions against Syria and how to support Syrians with early recovery in basic infrastructure such as water and electricity.
Syrians celebrate fall of Al Assad across Europe - in pictures
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Sevilla v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad (7.15pm)
Eibar v Valencia (9.30pm)
Atletico Madrid v Alaves (11.45pm)
Sunday
Girona v Getafe (3pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7.15pm)
Las Palmas v Espanyol (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Deportivo la Coruna (11.45pm)
Monday
Malaga v Real Betis (midnight)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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FIGHT%20CARD
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
India Test squad
Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
