The President of Syria, Ahmed Shara’a, welcomed Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, on March 20, a major milestone for the new Syrian government.
Baerbock led a delegation to Syria as part of widening efforts by European powers to reach out to the new government in the wake of the fall of the Assad regime on December 8. Syrian state media said that Baerbock was accompanied by Vice-President of the European Parliament Armin Laschet. They met with the Syrian foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, in Damascus.
The German foreign ministry made a statement about the trip, noting how important it was after 14 years of Syrian civil war.
The statement noted that Syrians in the region share a hope for stability. There are many Syrian refugees in Germany as well. “In Damascus, Foreign Minister Baerbock will hold talks with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani, as well as with members of civil society. Not least the terrible massacre of hundreds of people, many of them Alawites, demonstrates how urgent it is to take concrete steps towards political inclusion – for all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. The transitional government in Syria must urgently hold to account those responsible,” the German Federal Foreign Office said.
It noted that Baerbock “also spoke with the families of civilians who were brutally killed in Syria’s western coastal region, and why she had what is now a second meeting with members of the Syrian Civil Defence, who are also known as the White Helmets.”
The statement said she also focused “on the state of efforts towards achieving an effective transitional justice system. For the country to find peace, it is absolutely essential for the crimes committed under the Assad regime to be prosecuted. The Minister’s agenda also includes meetings with women’s and human rights activists. After all, only if all population groups are involved in the national transition process will it be possible for Syria to enjoy peace in the long term.”
The visit by the German diplomat follows comments by the British Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, who recently said, “We do not want the Syrian people to suffer from the sanctions imposed under Bashar al-Assad’s regime.”
Syria’s SANA state media noted that the British official had “indicated that his country wants to see an inclusive government in Syria.” Falconer added, “Syria now has the opportunity to become a more secure and stable country.”
The comments and visit also follow the resumption of operations at Syria’s Aleppo International Airport. Additionally, Syria is receiving new support from Qatar and Turkey. Furthermore, several countries have condemned Israel’s recent airstrikes on Syria.
Reopened embassy in Syria
Germany has reopened its embassy in Syria, another part of the recent milestone of the visit by the German top diplomat. Little by little, Syria is making major diplomatic progress. All of this will have ramifications for the region.
Stability in Syria could shore up Iraq and reduce extremism. Iran and other countries that backed the Assad regime are also watching closely. Hezbollah has sought to destabilize Syria over the past week with killings and clashes in northern Lebanon along the Syrian border. Syria has cracked down on weapons and drug smuggling in the last several days as well.