Western powers signal new diplomatic engagement in Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The German Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that German diplomats will hold preliminary talks with representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), focusing on facilitating a political transition in Syria and ensuring the protection of minorities.
Sources in the German Foreign Ministry told Bild that discussions will center on “an inclusive transition process in Syria and the protection of minorities.”
According to media reports, preparations are underway to reopen the German embassy in Damascus if talks with the Syrian transitional government prove successful.
A French delegation, led by Special Envoy to Syria Jean-François Guillaume, arrived in Damascus on Tuesday for the first time in over a decade.
The delegation visited the French Embassy premises, closed since 2012, and raised the French flag.
Guillaume emphasized that “France is preparing to be with Syrians for the long term including the current transitional period, which we hope will be peaceful.”
In a related development, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced on Monday that senior UK officials had also traveled to Damascus for discussions with Syria’s new leadership, signaling a broader shift in Western diplomatic engagement with Syria after years of isolation.