The French and German foreign ministers called for a peaceful, inclusive transition in Syria as they visited Damascus Friday for talks with new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
France’s Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock are the most senior Western diplomats to visit the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad last month.
Baerbock told Sharaa that the European Union stood ready to support the transition in Syria but warned that “Europe will not finance new Islamist structures”.
“This is not only in our security interests but also what I have heard time and again from very many Syrians in Germany… and here in the region,” she said.
She called for “an inclusive, peaceful transfer of power, reconciliation, and reconstruction”.
“This requires a political dialogue involving all ethnic and religious groups, involving men and equally women.”
HTS, which is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, has sought to reassure minorities that they will not be harmed, although several incidents have sparked protests.
On December 24, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Christian areas of Damascus to protest the burning of a Christmas tree near the central city of Hama.
Earlier, Barrot met with Christian leaders. Diplomatic sources said he told them France was committed to a pluralistic Syria with equal rights for all, including minority groups.
