French, German foreign ministers meet Syria’s de facto rulers

Germany’s Annalena Baerbock says Europe will support Syria but ‘will not be a financier of Islamist structures’. The French and German foreign ministers have met Syria’s new de facto rulers in Damascus, marking the first trip by top European officials to the country since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad last month. “A political solution must be reached with France’s allies, the Kurds, so that they are fully integrated into this political process that is beginning today,” Barrot said after meeting civil society representatives in Damascus. In a news briefing after meeting the new Syrian administration, Baerbock said: “In our talks today we made clear Europe will support but Europe will not be a financier of Islamist structures.” “Ethnic and religious groups involving men as well as women … must be involved in the constitutional process and in a future Syrian government,” she added. Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra said that the German and French foreign ministers came with a “long list of demands” for the new administration.