German and French Foreign Ministers to Visit Syria Meet with Transitional Government Ministers

The foreign ministers of Germany and France, who lead the EU, visited Syria as an EU delegation in the capital Damascus to meet with the leaders of the transitional government.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barro met with the head of the Islamic militant group HTS and Ahmed al-Shara, who are in power of the transitional government, at the presidential palace in Damascus on the 3rd local time.

The two ministers also visited Sednaya prison, where torture and harshness were inflicted under Assad's regime.

It is the first time that the head of foreign affairs of EU member states has visited Syria since HTS-led rebels ousted the Assad regime on the 8th of last month and declared victory in the civil war.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Kaya Kallas said the EU's message to Syria's new leadership is that regional parties respect the agreed principles and ensure the protection of all citizens and minorities.

"We must respect Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty," Baerbock said after meeting Al-Shara, suggesting that Kurdish security should end fighting in the northern part of the country and integrate Kurdish forces into Syria's security structure.

Minister Barro also called for a political solution to integrate the Kurds, France's ally, into Syria's political process.