German and French Foreign Ministers met in Damascus with the new Authorities
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged the authorities in Syria not to establish an Islamic government after the overthrow of Bashar al Assad, in statements from Damascus on Friday at the end of a visit during which she met the head of the new administration, Ahmed al Sharaa.
Baerbock stressed that “Europe will support” Syria during the transitional period, however, it won’t fund new Islamic bodies,” noting, “this isn’t only in our own security interests, but I have heard it repeatedly from many Syrians in Germany… and here in the region”.
Baerbock and her French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot stressed on Friday the need to achieve a peaceful and inclusive transfer of power in Syria, during the first visit by Western officials at this level to Damascus since the fall of Assad.
The German minister said she had stressed to al Sharaa and other officials she met in Syria that women’s rights are a measure of progress in human rights.
It also called on all neighboring countries to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria, considering that the safety of the Kurds is also essential for a Syria living in peace.
She stressed that this requires stopping the fighting in the north (between Kurdish forces and pro-Turkish factions) and integrating Kurdish forces… into the Syrian security structure”.
