The French and German foreign ministers met this Friday, January 3, the new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Charaa in Damascus. Jean-Noël Barrot visited the French embassy, confirming its upcoming reopening.
The ballet of chancelleries continues in Damascus. Jean-Noël Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus on Friday January 3, where they met Syrian leader Ahmed al-Charaa. Handshake for the Frenchman, not for the German, whom the leader greeted with a gesture of the hand on the heart. This is the first visit at this level by officials from the great Western powers to the new Syrian authorities, whose first steps are being carefully scrutinized. The head of French diplomacy arrived Friday morning, where Annalena Baerbock joined him for this visit “under mandate of the European Union”, she indicated.
“Together, France and Germany stand alongside the Syrian people, in all their diversity,” wrote the French Minister of Foreign Affairs on Friday on the social network He stressed that both countries wanted “foster a peaceful and demanding transition in the service of Syrians and for regional stability”. “My trip today, with my French counterpart and on behalf of the EU, is a clear signal to Syrians: a new political start between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria is possible »said the German environmentalist. “It is with this outstretched hand, but also with clear expectations of the new leaders, that we go to Damascus today.”
Meeting with Christian dignitaries and visit to Saydnaya
Jean-Noël Barrot began his visit with a meeting with religious representatives of the Christian community, worried about the arrival of Islamists in power. He shared his hope of“a sovereign, stable and peaceful Syria”. “It’s a real hope, but it’s a fragile hope.” The two ministers then went to Saydnaya prison, near Damascus, a symbol of the mass repression of Bashar al-Assad's power. Accompanied by members of the White Helmets, Syrian rescue workers, they visited cells and underground jails where detention conditions were inhumane and where many detainees died under torture.
Leaders from many Arab and Western countries have been rushing to Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, breaking the isolation that has been imposed on Syria since he bloodily suppressed a popular uprising in 2011. France had already dispatched emissaries to the new authorities on December 17 and the tricolor flag now flies over its embassy, closed in 2012, and of which the minister reaffirmed “the need to work on the reopening of diplomatic representation according to the evolution of political and security conditions”, according to a diplomatic source. France will prepare, “in a gradual and conditioned manner, the modalities of his return to Syria”, said the same source in the morning. Germany, whose embassy has also been closed since 2012, sent emissaries the same day, in order to establish contacts with the transitional authorities, whose first steps in power are being observed with caution.
Support but “skepticism”
“We want to support them in this area: in an inclusive and peaceful transfer of power, in the reconciliation of society, in reconstruction,” Annalena Baerbock said from Damascus. “We will continue to judge HTS on its actions”, “despite our skepticism”. Faced with the challenge of unifying the country, Ahmed al-Charaa has pledged to dissolve the armed factions, notably the HTS group, which claims to have broken with jihadism. He announced his intention to convene a national dialogue, without specifying the date or who would be invited, and indicated that the organization of elections in his country could take four years.
The two ministers must finally meet representatives of civil society, repressed by Assad's power and marginalized. While the war has left more than half a million dead, caused the flight of millions of people, fragmented and ravaged the country, Ahmed al-Charaa calls for a lifting of the international sanctions which were imposed on the power of Bashar al-Assad . His group, HTS, the former Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, claims to have broken with jihadism but remains classified as “terrorist” by several Western capitals, notably Washington. France is due to host an international meeting on Syria in January, which comes after a similar meeting in December of American, European, Arab and Turkish ministers and officials.
Update with the first words of Jean-Noël Barrot upon his arrival then at 2:51 p.m. with the meeting between the two ministers and Ahmed al-Charaa
