French and German Foreign Ministers call for greater inclusivity during Damascus visit

French and German foreign ministers urged Syria's new interim government on Friday to embrace diversity and inclusivity during a visit to Damascus.  French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, who leads the coalition and now controls the Syrian capital.

After meeting civil society representatives, Barrot stressed the importance of Kurdish participation in the emerging political process. Baerbock ruled out European Union funding for "new Islamist entities" while emphasizing minority rights and women's participation in the political process. She cited security coordination between Kurdish forces and other factions as "an important first step" toward establishing a national defense framework.