Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with the French and German foreign ministers on Friday, marking the highest-level engagement by major Western powers since new authorities took control in Damascus.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in the Syrian capital earlier Friday. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock joined him later, as part of talks on behalf of the European Union.
Al-Sharaa, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, led the offensive that ousted Syria’s longtime dictator Bashar Assad in early December.
The HTS-led interim authorities now face the daunting task of rebuilding state institutions amid calls for an inclusive transition and guarantees of minority rights.
Barrot, in a post on X, said, "Together, France and Germany stand alongside the Syrian people, in all their diversity."
He added that the two European powers aim to promote a "peaceful transition." Speaking in Damascus, he expressed hope for a "sovereign, stable and peaceful" Syria, adding, "It is a fragile hope, but a real one."
In a statement, Baerbock said Germany wants to help Syria become a "safe home" for all its people and a "functioning state with full control over its territory."
She described the visit as a "clear signal" to Damascus of the potential for a renewed relationship between Syria and Europe.
She also urged the new regime to avoid "acts of vengeance against groups within the population," expedite elections and prevent efforts to radicalize the judicial and education systems.
"This must be our common objective," she said.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized Germany’s active engagement with both the current leadership in Damascus and opposition groups in Syria, underlining the need for a multi-ethnic vision for the country’s future.
“We are carefully assessing how to advance our contacts while fostering a path toward a prosperous future for Syria and its citizens,” Scholz stated during a visit to a Rolls Royce plant near Berlin.
Minister Annalena Baerbock toured Sednaya prison near Damascus, a site notorious for torture and mass killings under Bashar Assad's regime.
Baerbock, joined by Barrot, described the harrowing visit as a sobering glimpse into unimaginable horrors.
“You simply can't fathom the terror of places like this,” Baerbock said, visibly shaken. “People endured hell here, subjected to barbaric methods that defy any notion of civilization.”
The tour, organized in cooperation with the Syrian civil defense group White Helmets, showcased evidence of atrocities, including an infamous steel press allegedly used to crush prisoners.
Representatives of the White Helmets detailed documented crimes, offering chilling insights into the regime's methods.
Baerbock emphasized the international community’s duty to pursue justice for victims.
“We cannot undo the past, but we can contribute to justice by collecting evidence and ensuring these heinous crimes are investigated,” she said.
Barrot echoed this sentiment, reiterating France’s commitment to a pluralistic Syria.
During his visit, he met with leaders of Syria's Christian communities, assuring them that France stands firm in supporting equal rights for all minorities.
