Berlin is leading a push for the European Union to ease Assad-era sanctions on Syria as part of a western drive to support the country’s political transition and aid reconstruction after 13 years of devastating civil war.

Nor does Paris have any ethical lessons to offer Syria, given its horrific record in former colonies, from Algeria to Senegal - not to mention its support for military coups and brutal dictatorships, such as the Sisi regime in Egypt and warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya.

All Syrian groups, including women and Kurds, must be involved in the country's transition if Damascus wants European support, Germany's foreign minister said after a closely-watched first meeting with the new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told Syria's makeshift transitional government in Damascus that Europe would support the country as long as the political dialogue includes all of Syria's ethnic and religious groups.

The visit by European ministers symbolizes a significant shift in international diplomacy following years of strained relations between Europe and Syria.

Annalena Baerbock says Middle Eastern country must not ‘Islamise justice or education systems’ during diplomatic visit to Damascus

Germany is ready to help Syria’s new rulers establish a unified security force that includes Kurdish-led forces, Berlin’s envoy to Damascus said.

Al-Shara met with foreign dignitaries from France and Germany in Damascus on Friday. German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock and French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot made the trip ...

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Germany and France said on Friday that the fighting in the Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria should end and the security interests of Kurds should be protected, following a visit of foreign ministers of both Western countries to Damascus.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has arrived in Syria for a surprise visit, some four weeks after the overthrow of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad. The Green Party politician landed on Friday morning at the airport in the capital Damascus in a German military A400M propeller transport aircraft.

The top diplomat from Germany was in Syria on Friday to send what she called a clear signal that Europe and Syria can have a “political new beginning" after Islamist insurgents ousted Bashar Assad.