All Syrian groups, including women and Kurds, must be involved in the country's transition if Damascus wants European support, Germany's foreign minister said after a closely-watched first meeting with the new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has arrived in Syria for a surprise visit, some four weeks after the overthrow of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad. The Green Party politician landed on Friday morning at the airport in the capital Damascus in a German military A400M propeller transport aircraft.

Annalena Baerbock says Middle Eastern country must not ‘Islamise justice or education systems’ during diplomatic visit to Damascus

The visit by European ministers symbolizes a significant shift in international diplomacy following years of strained relations between Europe and Syria.

The German and French foreign ministers are heading to Damascus to send what the German minister said is a clear signal that a “political new beginning” between Europe and Syria is possible.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock arrived in Damascus on Friday for the first high-level visit by Western powers to the new Syrian administration that overthrew president Bashar al-Assad last month.

Germany is ready to help Syria’s new rulers establish a unified security force that includes Kurdish-led forces, Berlin’s envoy to Damascus said.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Germany and France said on Friday that the fighting in the Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria should end and the security interests of Kurds should be protected, following a visit of foreign ministers of both Western countries to Damascus.

In Damascus, French and German foreign ministers Jean-Noël Barrot and Annalena Baerbock called for a 'peaceful and rigorous' transition with de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Syria’s de facto leader extended a hand to France’s foreign minister, but not to Germany’s Baerbock. Women’s rights were a focus of the trip.

Sharaa's refusal to shake hands with German Finance Minister Annalena Baerbock has raised concerns about conservative policies in Syria.