President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday called for an orderly political transition in Syria in the wake of rebels seizing Damascus and ousting President Bashar al-Assad after 13 years of civil war over the weekend.

In a post on X Christodoulides said “the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria must be respected” and called for “a smooth, Syrian-led and inclusive political transition, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” which is now “more urgent than ever.”

“Peace and security of all Syrians, including minorities, must be ensured,” Christodoulides added, saying Syria’s rich cultural heritage must be respected and preserved.

The government is monitoring the evolving situation in the region very closely and with “the necessary attention,” the president said.

Stability in Syria would facilitate dignified conditions for the safe return of Syrian refugees and developments in the region are crucial for the EU’s security, he added.

“Geography dictates Cyprus’ role [in the developments] as a member of the EU,” government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis told the CyBC on Monday.

He said the EU would collectively assess the situation at the next EU council meeting slated for December 18 and determine whether dialogue was on the cards with the newly established regime in Syria.

It was “premature to draw any conclusions” about what the rapid developments in Syria mean for migration flows, Letymbiotis said, adding that “the migration plan is constantly being evaluated and adjusted or reinforced as needed.”

The EU would hold discussions to decide on a common line towards the new Syrian regime, he said.

Letymbiotis also said the president had spoken over the phone with EU President Ursula Von den Leyen about the recent events and that the leaders had expressed their shared concern to “avoid escalations of crises that may threaten regional security” and the EU’s role in securing stability.