Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli raids targeted a cement plant, an asphalt factory, and fuel tanks in the Ansar area in South Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A series of violent Israeli raids targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Shmestar in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon
Donald Trump will speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday: White House
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes raid the town of Bnaafoul, Saida district
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Occupation forces opened machine gun fire toward outskirts of Aitaroun as locals headed for olive harvest.

Germany reopens its embassy in Syria after 13-year closure

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 20 Mar 2025 15:40
4 Min Read

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock officially reopened Germany's embassy in Damascus on Thursday, marking the end of a 13-year closure.

Listen
  • x
  • Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock speaks during a press conference, in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock speaks during a press conference, in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 19, 2025 (AP)

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reopened her country's embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday after a 13-year closure.

"Minister Baerbock officially reopened Berlin's embassy in Damascus," German special envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, said on X.

"We are pleased to work closely with all Syrians for a better Syria," he added.

أعادت الوزيرة بيربوك اليوم افتتاح السفارة الألمانية في #سوريا رسميًا. يسعدنا العمل عن كثب مع جميع السوريين من أجل سوريا أفضل. للأسف، لا يزال فريقنا صغيرًا، لذا ستبقى شؤون التأشيرات والقنصليات تُدار من بيروت للفترة المقبلة. pic.twitter.com/H3PzGkbz2A

— Stefan Schneck (@GERonSyria) March 20, 2025

The envoy said the working team in the embassy is “still small".

“The visa and consular affairs will remain managed from Beirut for the coming period," he added.

Germany urges Syrian interim leaders to control extremist groups

Following talks in Damascus with interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa and other officials, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that they must bring under control and hold accountable groups behind sectarian massacres committed this month, which killed more than 1,500 lives, predominantly from the minority Alawite community, on Syria's Mediterranean coast.

The new Syrian security forces and their allied groups have been accused of committing the massacres, in the worst wave of violence since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"It is imperative that extremist groups in their ranks are brought under control and those responsible for crimes are held accountable," she said

Related News

Syria not seeking IMF, World Bank loans: Interim finance minister

Sharaa hopes Russia will help rebuild army: Syrian source to Reuters

"Any attempt at renewed escalation must be prevented."

Baerbock described the situation in Syria as "particularly volatile" and said the country was "on a knife edge" as it seeks stability after years of war.

She said numerous actors inside and outside the country were trying "to torpedo this peaceful political process."

"As Europeans, we will not support a resurgence of Islamist structures, the top German diplomat asserted.

She called for a power-sharing system where all groups, including Druze, Alawites, Christians, and others, "also feel part of a new, shared Syria".

The participation of women would be "a key indicator of this, as they make up 50 percent of the population," she added.

"Our common goal is that Syria never falls back into civil war."

Baerbock said badly needed private investment for the war-battered country "will only come when a stable, functioning state guarantees that there will never be violence and chaos again, and that people will never have to flee again."

On Monday, Germany pledged millions of dollars in aid to Syrians in their country, as well as refugees and their host countries, through the United Nations and other international organizations.

Berlin pledged 300 million Euros (326 million dollars) before the EU-led donor conference in Belgium, noting that more than half of the funds will be aimed towards the people in Syria, and will be implemented without the transitional government.

Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkiye will also receive the support, which includes food, health services, emergency shelters, and protective measures for the particularly vulnerable, according to the Foreign Ministry.

"As Europeans, we stand together for the people of Syria, for a free and peaceful Syria," Baerbock said, repeating the importance of an inclusive political process to guarantee a peaceful future for Syria while calling for the transitional government to investigate the killing of thousands of civilians in Alawite villages and hold those responsible accountable.

Read next: Germany explores large-scale return of Syrian refugees

  • Syria
  • Damascus
  • Germany
  • Berlin
  • Annalena Baerbock

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
The bodies of deceased Palestinians, held by Israel during the war, lie in plastic bags on the floor of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, following their release, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' returns 30 Palestinian bodies; some bear marks of torture

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of war debris as crisis deepens
Politics

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of debris, 20,000 lingering UXOs

Ex-White House adviser Ashley Tellis charged over secret files
Politics

Ex-White House advisor accused of amassing troves of top secret files

An Israeli soldier rests by a mobile artillery unit at a gathering point on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern “Israel”, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Global arms bans isolate 'Israel', yet its war machine keeps running

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS