During her visit to Damascus on Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Syria’s interim government to take concrete action against extremist elements within its ranks. This marks her second visit to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Annalena Baerbock © GNA
During her visit to Damascus on Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Syria’s interim government to take concrete action against extremist elements within its ranks. This marks her second visit to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Speaking at a press conference after meeting with Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and Foreign Minister Assaad el-Chaibani, Baerbock stressed the need for immediate action.
“It is time to move from words to deeds. It is now up to them (the interim Syrian authorities) to control the extremist groups within their ranks and hold those responsible for crimes accountable,” she stated.
Her remarks reflect growing international concerns over the ideological leanings of Syria’s new leadership and the potential for further instability in the region.
A Controversial Figure at the Helm
Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has drawn criticism due to his ties with Islamist extremist movements. While he presents a polished image with his formal attire and diplomatic rhetoric, his past is marked by violent affiliations. His rise to power following Assad’s ouster has raised alarms among Western nations, who fear that Syria could become a breeding ground for radical groups.
Germany has been vocal about the need for transparency and accountability in Syria’s political transition. Baerbock’s visit underscores Berlin’s commitment to ensuring that the new leadership does not allow extremist factions to dictate the country’s future.
As Syria navigates a complex and fragile post-Assad era, international pressure is mounting for the interim government to demonstrate a clear break from extremism and uphold principles of governance that promote stability and security.
By Bruno Finel
In a historic first visit to the United States, Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, raised the country's new flag at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday and urged the international community to lift the sanctions still burdening Syria.
Syria has responded in writing to a list of U.S. conditions for possible partial sanctions relief, saying it had acted on most of them but others required "mutual understandings" with Washington, according to a copy of the letter seen by Reuters.
Congo and Rwanda vowed to come up with a draft peace deal by May 2 and refrain from providing military support to armed groups, according to an agreement signed in Washington on Friday as part of diplomatic efforts to end violence in eastern Congo.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.