The French and German foreign ministers recently visited Syria to meet with the country's new leaders and discuss the transition of power following the fall of the Assad regime in December. This marked the first visit by European Union ministers to Syria since the regime change.
During the visit, the ministers emphasized the importance of an inclusive transition of power and met with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was previously known as Abu Mohammed Al Jolani. Sharaa's group, HTS, played a significant role in the rebellion against Assad and has distanced itself from its past affiliation with al Qaeda.
The European delegation expressed a willingness to collaborate with the new Syrian government while also highlighting the need to protect minority groups. They emphasized the importance of allowing all of Syria's diverse communities to be represented in the political process without discrimination based on religion or gender.
Both ministers offered France's and the EU's expertise to assist Syria in drafting a new constitution and achieving transitional justice. They visited the notorious Sednaya prison, where they witnessed the atrocities that took place, including arbitrary detention, torture, and murder.
Barrot and Baerbock were deeply affected by the inhumane conditions at the prison and stressed the importance of serving justice to those who have suffered. They called on the international community to support efforts to bring justice to the victims and recommended involving the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to assess and eliminate chemical weapons in Syria.
