Germany: Women and Kurds Must Participate in Syria's Transitional Process

The German Foreign Minister, after her first meeting with Ahmad al-Shara, the new leader of Syria in Damascus, stated that if the country seeks support from the European Union, all Syrian groups, including women and Kurds, must be involved in the country's transitional process. According to Reuters, Annalena Baerbock emphasized the necessity of the participation of all groups in the transition to democracy in Syria during a press conference on Friday, January 14, where her French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, was also present. The foreign ministers of Germany and France, who traveled to Damascus on behalf of the European Union, expressed their intention to establish new relations with Syria and called for a peaceful transfer of power. Baerbock and Barrot are the first European ministers to visit Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government by rebels who took control of Damascus. Their aim was to send a message of cautious engagement with the Islamist militants led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, which, while acknowledging their position as the new rulers of Syria, also deems moderation and respect for minority rights essential. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, wrote on social media platform 'X' about this visit: 'Our message to the new leadership of Syria is to respect the principles agreed upon with regional actors and the high importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians and minorities.' In response to a question about whether the EU might soon lift sanctions imposed on Syria, the German Foreign Minister stated that this depends on the level of political progress and added that it is 'too early' for such a move. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, the new rulers of Syria have sought to assure the international community that they will govern on behalf of all segments of Syrian society. Western countries have gradually opened the doors for dialogue with Ahmad al-Shara, the new leader of Syria, and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, a Sunni Muslim group previously affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, and discussions have begun about removing this group from the list of terrorist organizations. Annalena Baerbock emphasized in a statement that they are aware of where 'Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham' comes from ideologically and what it has done in the past. Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Foreign Minister, also expressed hope during a meeting with representatives of Syrian civil society organizations that Syria would be 'independent and secure' and would leave no room for the growth of terrorism, chemical weapons, or the strengthening of malign regional actors. Barrot told reporters that Germany and France intend to provide technical assistance and advice while drafting a new constitution for Syria. This senior French diplomat called for a political solution for the integration of Kurdish fighters into the Syrian political system and added that a permanent ceasefire must be achieved. He did not respond to the question of when the EU might lift sanctions against Syria. Diplomatic sources told Reuters that Barrot also visited the French embassy in Damascus, which has been closed since 2012, and stated that Paris would strive to restore its diplomatic representation in accordance with political and security conditions.