After Assad’s fall: Baerbock warns Damascus towards abandoning a average course | EUROtoday

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock gave the brand new Syrian management clear circumstances for Europe’s assist throughout its go to to Damascus. Germany and the European Union needed to assist make sure that Syria’s future chapter can be peaceable and free. But there may be nonetheless an extended technique to go about this, she mentioned on the finish of her journey with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on behalf of the EU.

“We now need a political dialogue that includes all ethnic and religious groups, including all people, especially women in this country,” mentioned the Green politician. Europe will Syria assist, however don’t change into a financier of latest Islamist constructions, emphasised Baerbock.

No handshake for Baerbock

Baerbock and Barrot had beforehand been obtained by Syria’s de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa. While the Islamist didn’t greet the German with a handshake, he did lengthen his hand to the Frenchman. Barrot returned the gesture solely hesitantly.

Baerbock later mentioned when requested by a journalist that it was clear to her when she arrived that there can be no handshake. In the dialog with al-Sharaa, she made it very clear that girls’s rights are an indicator of how free a society is. It was heard from delegation circles that al-Sharaa prolonged his hand once more on the finish of the dialog, however that there was not a handshake.

Doubts in regards to the average tones

Al-Sharaa is the chief of the Islamist insurgent group Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which performed a key position within the overthrow of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad an excellent 4 weeks in the past. He was previously recognized by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.

The HTS group emerged from the Al-Nusra Front, an offshoot of the Al-Qaeda terrorist community. Al-Sharaa broke away from Al-Qaeda and the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) and introduced a average course.

Nevertheless, there are all the time doubts in regards to the veracity of the average tones Damascus on. For instance, the interim authorities drew criticism for curriculum adjustments that critics consider reveal an ideological bias. To this present day, there are studies that the HTS management maintains contact with al-Qaeda.

Expert: Refusing a handshake is just not good

The former head of the Science and Politics Foundation, Volker Perthes, considered the refused handshake as a nasty signal. “That’s not good, even if we know it from other countries where extremely conservative Islamic men are in power: Iran, for example, and until some time ago also Saudi Arabia,” Perthes instructed the “Stern.” He added: ” This is not part of the tradition in Syria. I hope that al-Sharaa will also be criticized for this in Syria.”

Baerbock requires justice for Assad victims

Right in the beginning of their go to, Baerbock and Barrot have been knowledgeable by the White Helmets civil safety group in regards to the atrocities dedicated by torturers throughout the Assad period within the infamous Saidnaya jail north of the capital. Ministers have been requested to placed on masks and rubber gloves – given the stench of urine and feces in cells plagued by soiled clothes and empty capsule bins.

Saidnaya is taken into account to be probably the most infamous navy jail from the Assad rule. In widespread parlance it was merely referred to as the “slaughterhouse”.

The White Helmets virtually begged Baerbock and Barrot to work to make sure that justice is completed for the victims. At the very finish that they had proven the Europeans the notorious human press. Women and males are mentioned to have been crushed to demise in it.

Baerbock: People went by means of hell

“You simply cannot imagine the horror of some places,” mentioned Baerbock, shocked. “But people have gone through hell here near the Syrian capital Damascus. Were killed using methods unimaginable in a civilized world.”

The lives of the victims of the Assad regime who died there can’t be introduced again. “But we can all contribute as an international community to ensuring that justice is achieved.” That’s one of many explanation why they got here to Damascus, Baerbock provides: “To make it clear that we also support the people here in Syria when it comes to the issue of collecting evidence, justice and solving these terrible crimes.”

Assad’s magnificent palace as a stark distinction

The distinction between the jail and the presidential palace the place Baerbock and Barrot have been obtained might hardly be higher. Huge halls, a purple carpet dozens of meters lengthy, and Assad’s inlaid furnishings remains to be there within the room the place al-Sharaa welcomed the Europeans for talks.

When requested whether or not she was dedicated to an early lifting of the sanctions towards Syria, Baerbock reacted with reservation. That relies on how the political course of is designed.

She traveled to Syria to speak to the transitional authorities and different actors about “whether such a political, inclusive process is possible and whether compliance with human rights can really be guaranteed. And the whole question of lifting sanctions is tied to this,” mentioned the minister.

Question in regards to the return of refugees

Whether human rights and safety are assured can also be elementary to the query of the return of refugees, mentioned Baerbock. “People only return if they are sure that they will not end up in such torture prisons or in Islamist torture prisons again. That’s why the political process is so essential,” mentioned the minister.

After greater than ten years of civil struggle, Syria is fragmented and sectarian. Even after Assad’s fall, rival militias proceed to combat for energy. Almost concurrently with Barbock’s go to to Damascus, there have been studies of heavy preventing within the north of the nation between pro-Turkish militias and Kurdish forces that management massive elements of the nation.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:250103-930-333506/8