Germany FM Baerbock warns of new Syria violence ahead of Türkiye visit

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned against the threat of “new violence” in Syria as she left for a visit to neighboring Türkiye on Friday.

Her trip to Ankara comes almost two weeks after opposition-led forces overthrew Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

“Those who want peace in the region must not undermine the territorial integrity of Syria,” she said in a statement.

All eyes are on Syria these days. After almost endless years of brutal civil war, there is finally hope for a future in which the people of Syria, men and women of all ethnic or religious backgrounds, can live together safely.

Türkiye is a key player in the Middle East. Both our countries now have a responsibility to play an active role in the Syrian peace process. Syria must neither become a pawn of foreign powers nor an experiment by radical forces.

Peace in Syria can only be achieved on the basis of democratic processes and the participation of all social groups in Syria.

Germany is prepared to cooperate with the transitional government and will measure it by its actions. The 8-point plan for Syria already exists for this purpose. The focus is on responsible policies in the interests of the entire Syrian population. Safeguarding Syria’s territorial integrity is also essential for the country’s future.

Sustainable peace requires patience, determination and international cooperation

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

Syria’s future is “hanging by a thread”, said Baerbock, who was set to meet her Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan as well as members of the large Syrian refugee community on her one-day visit.

Baerbock said that Syria’s reconstruction and the return of refugees “can only work if people have no more fear of persecution”.

Germany has also urged Israel to abandon plans to step up settlement in the occupied and annexed Golan Heights at the southwestern edge of Syria. On her trip to Türkiye, German Foreign Minister Baerbock will be accompanied by the Federal Foreign Office’s Special Coordinator for Syria.