dpa
Prague
The Czech Republic wants to reopen its embassy in Damascus as soon as possible after the change of government in Syria.
Speaking after a meeting with President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala in Prague on Thursday, the country’s Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said the government wanted “to have diplomats on the ground, but of course we cannot risk the lives of our people.”
The Czech Republic only recently evacuated its diplomatic staff from Damascus to safety in Lebanon, where they are currently staying.
The Czechs have represented the United States in Syria in consular matters since 2012, when the US Embassy was closed. Many other Western countries also closed their embassies during the civil war that began in 2011.
Fiala warned that it is not yet possible to say whether future developments in Syria will pose a threat or an opportunity.
He added that while it is important that there is no new major wave of emigration from Syria, there are signs that some Syrian refugees now want to return to their country.
