In an environment with far more doubts than certainties following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and the prevalence of the Syrian opposition and Islamists in the country, Athens is attempting to “map” the new landscape, given that our country is a gateway to the EU and is at a key point as a “bridge” between Europe-Middle East and Africa.

Since yesterday, all scenarios were under evaluation at the Maximos building, beyond engaging with the EU in the disavowal of the Assad regime. The first question that remains to be answered is what kind of government Syria will have, how unified and inclusive it will be, and what will be its attitude towards major players such as the US, Russia and Israel.

Second parameter in the equation, what will be the role of Turkey, which has backed Islamist rebels who are besieging towns where Syrian Kurds are located.

As for migration, the government has “opened a window” of return for many of the migrants currently in Europe, but it remains to be seen that there will not be another wave of migration from Assad regime-affiliated Christians if they suffer religious persecution.

In this environment of fluidity and the government is also taking recognizable steps. The prime minister has held talks with Patriarch John of Antioch, and according to protothema.gr, he is also on an open line with Greece’s other partners in the region and in Europe. Similarly, Foreign Minister Georgos Gerapetritis held talks with his Jordanian and Lebanese counterparts, with the prime minister’s visit to Beirut still pending after it was postponed on Friday. Finally, National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias held talks yesterday with his Turkish counterpart Guler, in principle on a military helicopter crash in the neighbouring country, but apparently also with an eye on upcoming developments in the region.

At the GSC

Athens does not expect things to be immediately clear, but in the coming days there may be more “clarity” on the positioning of several players on the ground. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will brief political leaders, while the National Foreign Policy Council meets for the first time in a long time on Thursday.

The most crucial discussion, however, will take place at the GSC (KYSEA) on Friday, not only on geopolitics, but also on what to do about the consideration of asylum applications by Syrian citizens, who have flocked to Europe in waves in recent years. It is “implicitly” estimated that no decisions will be issued regarding asylum applications by Syrian citizens for a few days, until the GSC makes a decision on the rules that will apply. There will have been a discussion at European level in between, as on Wednesday and Thursday the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, will be in Brussels for the EU’s Internal Affairs Council meeting, and yesterday he held talks with the Commissioner responsible, Magnus Bruner.

The concern also in Athens is whether the reasons that made Syrians by default eligible for asylum have ceased to exist or whether the risk remains with the new situation.

According to information from protothema.gr, new, more specific instructions have been given for the personalized interviews being conducted in Greek structures these days, pending a review of the framework. However, competent sources estimate that even if Syrian citizens take the road back, this will be a long process.