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The handshake in Syria was not a surprise, Germany’s foreign minister says – POLITICO

The handshake in Syria was not a surprise, Germany’s foreign minister says – POLITICO

“But it was also clear that not only me, but also the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France did not share this opinion. And, accordingly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France did not extend his hands,” she emphasized.

Baerbock and Barrot are The first ministers of the EU visited Syria following the ouster of the decades-long regime of Bashar al-Assad following an offensive by Islamist rebels in early December.

When they arrived in Damascus, they were met by the country’s de facto leader, Ahmed Hussein al-Shar’a, who reached out to shake Barro’s hand. but not Baerbock.

Video of the moment posted online shows Barro apparently starting to extend his hand but then failing to shake hands. Al-Shara then returns and leads the two ministers.

Al-Shar’a, also known by the alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is the head of the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. A former branch of the Al-Qaeda group included in the list of terrorist organizations United States and Great Britain.

Given the group’s history, HTS’s rise to power raised concerns about the protection of the rights of women and minorities in Syriawhich were in the center of attention visit this week the first diplomats of Germany and France.