French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has pledged support to Syria while on a joint visit with Germany’s Annalena Baerbock to Damascus.
“A few weeks ago, a new hope was created, the hope of a sovereign Syria, a stable Syria and a peaceful Syria,” Barrot said.
This hope was down to the determination and mobilization of the Syrian population, Barrot said. “It is a fragile hope, but a realistic hope, and for that reason France will stand by the Syrians,” he added.
Following a visit to the notorious Sednaya prison north of Damascus, Barrot asserted French determination to assist in investigating the crimes committed there. France had supported the work of Syrian civil society organizations in documenting crimes committed there by the recently ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad since 2011, he said.
In Damascus, Barrot also visited the premises of the French embassy, which has been closed since 2012. France’s diplomatic representation would gradually be reopened depending on the security and political situation, he said.
Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa (C), meets with Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot at the presidential palace in Damascus. Baerbock is on a surprise visit to Syria, roughly four weeks after the fall of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad. Jörg Blank/dpa
