LONDON: Syria’s relationship with Europe has shifted from crisis management to forging partnerships in various areas, according to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani.
He was part of the official delegation headed by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa visiting Germany and the UK this week.
Al-Shaibani said that the visit marks a new phase in Syrian–European relations after decades of isolation under the former regime of Bashar Assad, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Al-Sharaa met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and King Charles III. He was the first Syrian head of state to visit the UK since 2002 and the first to fly to Germany since 2001.
“We participated in the German–Syrian Business Forum in Berlin, which concluded with the signing of vital memoranda of understanding in the energy and transport sectors. In London, we discussed opportunities for British investment in our infrastructure. Lifting sanctions was the beginning; today we are seeing the results,” Al-Shaibani said.
Syrian officials aim to attract investments to accelerate economic recovery and rebuild the country’s infrastructure, which was heavily damaged during the civil war that lasted from 2011 to 2024.
During their meetings, they emphasized to German and British leaders that Syria is a stabilizing actor committed to counterterrorism and combating organized crime, and is not a party to conflicts, according to SANA.
Al-Shaibani noted that Damascus opposes forced returns of Syrians in Europe and aims for voluntary repatriation to solve the issue.
“Our permanent compass is the Syrian national interest. Our project is to reunite Syrians, heal wounds, and build a state of law and institutions worthy of their sacrifices,” he added.
