Syria’s de facto chief, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with the French and German international ministers on Friday, marking the highest-level engagement by main Western powers since new authorities took management in Damascus.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived within the Syrian capital earlier Friday. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock joined him later, as a part of talks on behalf of the European Union.
Al-Sharaa, chief of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, led the offensive that ousted Syria’s longtime dictator Bashar Assad in early December.
The HTS-led interim authorities now face the daunting activity of rebuilding state establishments amid requires an inclusive transition and ensures of minority rights.
Barrot, in a submit on X, stated, “Together, France and Germany stand alongside the Syrian people, in all their diversity.”
He added that the 2 European powers goal to advertise a “peaceful transition.” Speaking in Damascus, he expressed hope for a “sovereign, stable and peaceful” Syria, including, “It is a fragile hope, but a real one.”
In an announcement, Baerbock stated Germany desires to assist Syria change into a “safe home” for all its individuals and a “functioning state with full control over its territory.”
She described the go to as a “clear signal” to Damascus of the potential for a renewed relationship between Syria and Europe.
She additionally urged the brand new regime to keep away from “acts of vengeance against groups within the population,” expedite elections and stop efforts to radicalize the judicial and schooling methods.
“This must be our common objective,” she stated.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasised Germany’s energetic engagement with each the present management in Damascus and opposition teams in Syria, underlining the necessity for a multi-ethnic imaginative and prescient for the nation’s future.
“We are carefully assessing how to advance our contacts while fostering a path toward a prosperous future for Syria and its citizens,” Scholz said throughout a go to to a Rolls Royce plant close to Berlin.
Visit to Saydnaya jail
Minister Annalena Baerbock toured Sednaya jail close to Damascus, a web site infamous for torture and mass killings beneath Bashar Assad’s regime.
Baerbock, joined by Barrot, described the harrowing go to as a sobering glimpse into unimaginable horrors.
“You simply can’t fathom the terror of places like this,” Baerbock stated, visibly shaken. “People endured hell here, subjected to barbaric methods that defy any notion of civilization.”
The tour, organized in cooperation with the Syrian civil protection group White Helmets, showcased proof of atrocities, together with an notorious metal press allegedly used to crush prisoners.
Representatives of the White Helmets detailed documented crimes, providing chilling insights into the regime’s strategies.
Baerbock emphasised the worldwide group’s responsibility to pursue justice for victims.
“We cannot undo the past, but we can contribute to justice by collecting evidence and ensuring these heinous crimes are investigated,” she stated.
Barrot echoed this sentiment, reiterating France’s dedication to a pluralistic Syria.
During his go to, he met with leaders of Syria’s Christian communities, assuring them that France stands agency in supporting equal rights for all minorities.
Source: www.dailysabah.com