France's foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock emerged from talks with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, stressing their hopes that he will construct a more inclusive society than previous ruler Bashar-al Assad, reports RFI.
The pair – the first ministers from the EU to travel to the Syrian capital since al-Sharaa's forces seized control on 8 December – held talks with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) chief at the People’s Palace in Damascus on Friday.
Baerbock said she and Barrot had made clear that Europe would support a new Syria. "But Europe will not be a financier of Islamist structures,” she added.
HTS remains for many western governments part of the international terrorist network even though it has tried to renounce its affiliations with al-Qaida.
Baerbock said all Syrians — regardless of ethnic or religious group — must have a place in the political process as well as rights and protection.