Q: When did Mr. Barrot arrive in Syria (yesterday evening or this morning)? Will he spend the night in Syria, or will he return to France this evening? Will he discuss the lifting of EU sanctions on Syria and HTS with Ahmed al-Shara? What conditions will the ministry put forward?
A: Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot is visiting Damascus today, January 3. His schedule will be as follows:
Morning:
- Meeting between France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot and Syria's Christian patriarchs
- Visit to the French Embassy in Syria
- Visit to Sednaya prison by Jean-Noël Barrot and his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock
Afternoon:
- Discussion with members of Syrian civil society
- Press briefing
- Joint meeting between Jean-Noël Barrot and Annalena Baerbock with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Shara