During her visit to Syria, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was refused a handshake by the new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa. Her French counterpart, however, was politely shocked. Baerbock responded to the scandal: she did not expect a “normal handshake”.
Baerbock made a surprise trip to Syria on behalf of the EU on Friday morning with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot – four weeks after the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad. The incident took place during the reception in the capital Damascus: As ruler al-Sharaa Barrot extends his hand, he simply nods to Baebock and places his hand on his heart.
The welcome to Damascus can be seen in this video:
When they arrived at the airport in Damascus, representatives of the Islamist HTS militia refused to shake Baerbock’s hand and instead bowed.
The practice is frowned upon
When a journalist asked about the incident, Baerbock played it down: “It was already clear to me when I arrived that there would clearly be no normal handshakes here,” the Green politician explained. However, it was made clear to the Muslim hosts that they did not approve of this practice.
She explained that her counterpart did not initially extend his hand, but rather placed it in the area of the heart. According to “Spiegel”, Baerbock and Barrot had agreed in advance that neither would shake hands with the hosts. Only when al-Sharaas extended his to him did he grab it for a moment. The men’s handshake also seems a bit awkward.
The meeting in Syria also discussed the importance of women’s rights and that they are an indicator of freedom in a society, Baerbock explains. The reception took place in the former palace of deposed longtime ruler al-Assad. Baerbock had previously visited the former regime’s torture prison.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
