Help for Syria: Schulze on an exploratory journey to Damascus – see what is going on on | EUROtoday

Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze traveled to Syria for the primary time to advertise support initiatives within the war-torn nation. The federal authorities is brazenly approaching the interim authorities in Damascus arrange by Islamist rebels, however with out naivety. “After more than 50 years of dictatorship and 14 years of civil war, Syria now has the chance for peaceful and stable development,” mentioned the SPD politician earlier than a gathering with the overseas minister of the interim authorities, Asaad al-Shaibani. Whether it will succeed is at the moment nonetheless an open query.

As Schulze’s convoy drives from the airport to the Foreign Ministry, the autos cross a infamous secret service jail the place the safety equipment of President Bashar al-Assad, who fled in December, as soon as interrogated and tortured dissidents. Then we cross a burned-out police constructing.

Big duties – returning shouldn’t be a precedence

De facto Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani sees no want for his compatriots from Germany to return shortly to their previous homeland. “You are safe there,” he instructed the German Press Agency on the sidelines of his assembly with Schulze. The refugees who’ve been accepted into Germany are additionally doing higher than many Syrian refugees and displaced individuals in different areas. It is unclear which of the ministers of the present transitional authorities will nonetheless be in workplace in the summertime. It is claimed that the Foreign Minister’s chances are high at the very least not dangerous. The similar applies to the de facto well being minister Maher al-Sharaa, a brother of the brand new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Schulze is the second German cupboard member to journey to Damascus after the autumn of long-term ruler Assad. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) flew to the Syrian capital on January third. In her discussions with representatives of the interim authorities, she emphasised that the rights of all non secular and ethnic minorities have to be protected. It shouldn’t be but recognized when the German embassy, ​​which has been closed since 2012, might be anticipated to reopen. This is finally a safety query and in addition a political choice. The subsequent federal authorities could be “wisely advised” to hunt contacts with Syria, “because it is a strategically important country,” says Schulze.

No funds to interim authorities

“It would be wrong not to do everything in this historic window of time to support Syria with a peaceful new beginning,” says Schulze. At the identical time, she emphasizes that every one initiatives chosen by Germany is not going to be applied with the de facto rulers, however completely by way of United Nations support businesses and non-governmental organizations.

On December eighth, long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by a insurgent alliance led by the Islamist group Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which now leads the Arab nation with a transitional authorities appointed by it.

Baerbock and different European authorities officers have set situations for the lifting of sanctions and for assist. The sanctions are the explanation why roaming in Syria and financial institution transfers don’t work. There is a necessity for a political dialogue involving all ethnic and non secular teams, together with all folks, mentioned the Foreign Minister.

What will occur to Syrian refugees in Germany?

Some politicians, together with Bundestag member Jens Spahn (CDU) and BSW chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht, had already referred to as for the Syrian refugees to return shortly to their homeland shortly after the tip of Assad’s rule. Baerbock, however, steered permitting refugees from Syria residing in Germany to go to their house nation with an exemption. In this fashion, they might discover out for themselves whether or not there was a everlasting risk of returning for them. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) is now analyzing a corresponding exception regulation.

When these entitled to safety journey to their nations of origin, it’s assumed that the necessities for defense now not exist. There are solely exceptions if the journey is “morally imperative”, for instance due to the demise of a relative, and has been reported to the authorities.

The indisputable fact that in Germany after Baerbock’s go to to Damascus there was plenty of dialogue about the truth that de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa didn’t greet the Green politician with a handshake, some Syrian exiled opposition members have been left shaking their heads. At a convention in Riyadh, Foreign Minister al-Shaibani shook arms with Baerbock – as she did together with her cupboard colleague Schulze in Damascus.