Germany plans to hold talks with representatives of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) in Damascus on Tuesday, the foreign ministry has said. It is thus joining the US and UK in establishing contact with the Islamist group that led the overthrow of Syria’s Bashar Al-Assad, Reuters has reported.
According to a German foreign ministry spokesperson, its diplomats’ first talks with representatives of the HTS-appointed interim government will focus on a transitional process for Syria and the protection of minorities.
“The possibilities of a diplomatic presence in Damascus are also being explored there,” added the spokesperson, reiterating that Berlin was monitoring HTS closely in light of its roots in Al-Qaeda ideology. “As far as one can tell, they have acted prudently so far.”
It was HTS rebels who led the ouster of Assad last week, ending 13 years of civil war. The war triggered the movement of some one million Syrian refugees to Germany. Its end has stoked debate in the country on asylum procedures, now paused by Berlin for Syrians pending an assessment of the situation in their home country.
Germany is liaising closely on Syria with its partners, including the US, France and Britain, as well as Arab states, explained the German spokesperson.
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