German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock Receives Sympathy in Germany After Damascus Incident
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has received widespread understanding and sympathy in the German media following a diplomatic incident in Damascus, where she was snubbed by the Syrian government’s top official, Ahmed al-Sarraj, who refused to shake her hand.
In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Baerbock explained the events, saying, “As soon as I arrived, it was clear to me that it would not be a usual handshake here.” She stated that the German delegation made it clear to the hosts that they disapproved of the practice, and that her French colleague, Jean-Noël Barrot, also initially declined the handshake, before eventually extending his hand.
Baerbock emphasized that during the meeting, the main point of discussion was the importance of women’s rights as a measure of a society’s freedom. She concluded that, in the end, a handshake was not necessary.
The newspaper also reported that, according to sources, al-Sarraj may have offered a handshake at the end of the meeting, but it did not materialize.
Baerbock’s Green Party colleague, Robert Habeck, expressed support for the foreign minister, saying, “It is right and important that Annalena Baerbock is the first EU Foreign Minister to visit Syria.”
The German Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, also commented, “If we only met with governments that thought the same as we did, we would be quite alone.”
In a separate article, the German magazine Stern reported that Baerbock visited the abandoned German embassy in Damascus, where she took a selfie in front of a portrait of former German President Christian Wulff, who she said would receive the photo.