Khaberni - "The National" newspaper revealed that Paris and Damascus are conducting negotiations to transfer 32 million euros, roughly 37 million dollars, to Syria from the proceeds of assets confiscated in France belonging to Rifaat al-Assad, the former Syrian Vice President.
The report quotes a French diplomatic source stating, "The idea is that the funds stolen by a corrupt regime should return to the people they were stolen from," explaining that these funds will be allocated to developmental projects agreed upon with Syrian authorities, ensuring a "direct impact" on the citizens.
According to the newspaper, the negotiations kicked off this week with a visit by a Syrian delegation to Paris, led by the Deputy Minister of Justice Mustafa al-Qasim, and the Attorney General Hassan Youssef al-Turba, hoping both parties could finalize an agreement between the two states by the end of the year. Al-Qasim stated in remarks to the newspaper on the sidelines of the meetings that the French government "wants to return the confiscated funds to Syria to benefit reconstruction or at least critical infrastructure."
A French court had convicted Rifaat al-Assad in 2022 of embezzlement of Syrian public funds which he used to build a real estate empire in Europe, as reported by the newspaper. His assets in France were estimated at about 90 million euros, and he also owned properties in the United Kingdom and Spain. Rifaat al-Assad passed away in January at the age of 88.
A representative from the French Ministry of Justice, according to "The National," stated that the ministry has so far overseen the sale of confiscated assets worth 47 million euros by judicial order, refusing to provide further details under the claim of confidentiality.
The newspaper clarified that the figure is higher than the 32 million euros currently being discussed, as part of the proceeds from the sales have not yet been transferred to the state's budget, with additional sales expected.
The newspaper cited French sources saying that the Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, had previously suggested in a meeting that the funds should be directed towards transitional justice projects or agricultural projects, as the country struggles with drought and a shortage of wheat, confirming that the final decision regarding expenditure had not yet been determined.
