The French and German foreign ministers are meeting the Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus on Friday, marking the first visit at this level by officials of major Western powers to the new Syrian authorities, whose initial actions are being closely watched.
Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Damascus on Friday morning, according to AFP journalists on site. His German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, is set to join him for this visit "under the mandate of the European Union," she stated.
"Together, France and Germany stand alongside the Syrian people, in all its diversity," wrote the French Foreign Minister on social network X on Friday.
He emphasized that both countries want to "promote a peaceful and stringent transition for the benefit of Syrians and for regional stability."
The two ministers are to jointly meet Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads a coalition directed by his radical Islamist group, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which ousted President Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8.
"My visit today, with my French counterpart and on behalf of the EU, is a clear signal to the Syrians: a new political start between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria is possible," Baerbock said.
"It is with this outstretched hand, but also with clear expectations towards the new leaders, that we are heading to Damascus today."
Christian dignitaries
Barrot began his visit with a meeting with religious representatives of the Christian community, who are concerned about the arrival of Islamists in power.
The two ministers plan to visit the Saydnaya prison near Damascus, a symbol of mass repression under Assad’s regime, before their meeting with the new Syrian leader.
Leaders from many Arab and Western countries have rushed to Damascus following Assad’s fall, breaking the isolation imposed on Syria since he violently suppressed a popular uprising in 2011.
On Dec. 17, France already sent envoys to meet with the new authorities, and the tricolor flag now flies over its embassy, which had been closed since 2012.
Germany, whose embassy has also been closed since 2012, sent envoys on the same day to establish contacts with the transitional authorities, whose initial steps in power are being watched cautiously.
Faced with the challenge of unifying the country, Sharaa has pledged to dissolve armed factions, notably the HTS group.
He announced his intention to convene a national dialogue without specifying the date or who would be invited, and indicated that organizing elections in his country could take four years.
The two ministers are expected to meet representatives of civil society, repressed by Assad’s regime and marginalized.
While the war has caused over half a million deaths, displaced millions, fragmented and devastated the country, Sharaa is calling for the lifting of international sanctions imposed on Assad’s regime.
His group, HTS, a former Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, claims to have severed ties with jihadism but remains classified as "terrorist" by several Western capitals, including Washington.
France is expected to host an international meeting on Syria in January, following a similar meeting in December involving ministers and officials from the U.S., Europe, Arab countries and Turkey.