Latest news with #StefanSchneck
Rudaw Net
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
France, Germany concerned about Syria sectarian violence
Also in Syria Death toll in Syria's sectarian clashes rises to 56: War monitor Israel strikes 'extremist group' preparing to attack Druze in Syria: PM 13 dead in Syria's Sahnaya as sectarian clashes intensify: Monitor 18 killed in clashes between Druze fighters, government forces near Damascus: Monitor A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - France and Germany on Wednesday expressed concern about the sectarian violence against Syria's Druze population with two days of deadly clashes near Damascus having left over 100 dead. 'France condemns in the strongest terms the sectarian violence targeting the Druze community in areas to the south of Damascus. France calls on all Syrian and regional actors to bring a stop to the clashes and urges the Syrian authorities to make every effort to restore calm and promote civil peace,' the French foreign ministry said in a statement. Germany also said it was following the events with 'great concern.' 'Calming efforts should continue from all sides now. Hate speech and escalatory steps must be stopped, and concrete measures must be taken to achieve transitional reconciliation and justice,' Stefan Schneck, Germany's envoy to Syria, said on X. Tensions boiled over in southern Syria on Tuesday after an offensive audio clip about the Prophet Mohammed initially attributed to a Druze cleric triggered sectarian anger. The audio, later discovered to be fake, sparked violent confrontations in the majority Druze and Christian suburb of Jaramana, near Damascus, leaving at least 18 dead and dozens injured. The conflict later spread to Sahnaya and the nearby Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 101 people have been killed since clashes broke out on Tuesday. The UK also said it was following the sectarian violence in southern Syria, with Special Representative Ann Snow urging 'immediate de-escalation and protection of civilians.' Israel, which has previously warned Damascus against targeting the Druze, carried out several airstrikes on affiliated security forces. A joint statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said that Israel had struck an 'extremist group' planning to launch an attack on the Druze in Sahnaya. Its involvement triggered a reaction from Syria's foreign ministry, which responded and said it strongly rejects 'all forms of foreign intervention,' adding that the conflict with the Druze fighters, whom it called 'outlaw groups,' is an internal matter. In the statement, France called on Israel to 'refrain from taking any unilateral actions that could aggravate tensions between communities in Syria.' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Thursday called on the international community to 'protect' the Druze and 'not to turn a blind eye' on the sectarian violence. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar calls on the international community to not turn a blind eye to the sectarian violence targeting Syria's Druze community. — Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) May 1, 2025 Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the rebel coalition that toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime in early December. Its then leader and now Syria's interim President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has repeatedly pledged to protect the rights of all Syrians. In December, the rebel coalition, including the HTS, agreed to merge into the Syrian defense ministry. The international community has expressed concern that the new Islamist authorities in Damascus may impose strict Islamic rule in Syria, threatening the country's minority groups, such as Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites. Following clashes in Jaramana in February, Israeli Defense Minister Katz warned Damascus to 'not harm the Druze,' and stressed that Syrian authorities would 'suffer the consequences' if they harmed the community. Syria's Druze, Christian, and Kurdish communities have expressed deep mistrust toward Damascus and rejected the interim constitution.
Rudaw Net
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Germany welcomes formation of new Syrian government
Also in Syria Rojava says won't implement decisions of new 'exclusionary' government in Syria PYD confirms 'serious efforts' for Turkey-SDF ceasefire in northeast Syria Syrian cancer patients face growing crises due to medicine shortages Syria's Sharaa announces new cabinet A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Germany on Sunday welcomed the formation of Syria's new transitional government and said it is ready to assist Syrians in the recovery and state-building process. 'Germany welcomes the appointment of a new government. We stand ready to support the Syrians in healing their wounds and rebuilding their country,' Stefan Schneck, Germany's envoy to Syria, said on X. Syria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa announced his new cabinet on Saturday and described it as 'a new phase in our national journey' to recover and rebuild Syria after 14 years of brutal civil war. 'Inclusiveness, transitional justice, and openness to working with international partners are essential to fulfilling the revolution's aspirations for a new, free, and better Syria,' Schneck stressed. The new cabinet sees Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra retain their positions, but includes controversial figures such as US and UN-designated terrorist Anas Khattab, who was elevated from intelligence chief to interior minister, and top Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Sharia judge Mazhar al-Wais as justice minister. After a rebel coalition led by Islamist Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime last December, they formed a transitional government headed by Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani). He vowed that the rights of all Syria's components would be protected under the new government, but has received criticism for the transitional constitution that cements authoritarian rule and is accused of excluding minority Kurdish, Druze, Christian, and Alawite communities from decision-making bodies. Kurds in the northeast and Druze in the south have advocated for the adoption of a decentralized and secular system. The interim constitution dictates a five-year transitional phase.
See - Sada Elbalad
20-03-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Germany Reopens Embassy in Syria
Israa Farhan Germany has officially reopened its embassy in Damascus after 13 years of closure, marking a significant shift in diplomatic relations with Syria. The announcement was made by German envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, on Saturday, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock led the reopening ceremony, emphasizing Germany's commitment to working closely with Syrians for a better future. While the embassy is now operational, Schneck noted that its team remains small, and visa and consular services will continue to be handled from Beirut for the time being. This marks Baerbock's second visit to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8. Before her first visit, she stated that she was approaching Syria with an open hand but clear expectations from the new administration, stressing that Germany's stance would be shaped by the actions of Syria's leadership. Germany has expressed its desire for Syria to regain its standing in the international community, a goal that also aligns with Europe's broader security interests. The embassy's reopening signals a potential shift in Western engagement with Syria, though it remains to be seen how relations will evolve in the coming months. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Ireland Replaces Former Israeli Embassy with Palestinian Museum News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Rudaw Net
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
EU urges peaceful solution to unrest in Syria
Also in Syria SDF rules out military solution to resolve Syrian crisis: statement Iraq says borders with Syria protected Kurdish student killed in west Syria clashes SDF clashes with ISIS cells in eastern Syria A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - German and European Union envoys to Syria on Friday called on state forces and armed groups to reach a 'peaceful solution' and exit 'cycles of violence and hatred' after deadly clashes in the west of the country. State security forces were deployed to Alawite-majority areas along Syria's western coast after attacks and ambushes by armed men loyal to the toppled regime on Thursday. The numbers of people reported killed has been rapidly rising and now stands at 154, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said Syrian forces committed 'three massacres' on the outskirts of Latakia, executing 80 people. 'I am deeply shocked by the numerous victims in the western regions of Syria,' Stefan Schneck, Germany's special envoy to Syria, said on X. 'We must break free from the cycle of violence and hatred. Germany is ready to help wherever we can,' he added, and called on both sides to seek 'peaceful solutions, national unity, comprehensive political dialogue, and transitional justice.' Michael Ohnmacht, the EU's envoy to Syria, retweeted Schneck's post, adding "I share the opinion of my German counterpart regarding the call for all parties to exercise restraint.' He also noted that the right of all Syrians 'to live in safety and peace and participate in the peaceful transition' must be respected. The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), which is the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), called on Damascus to 'prioritize reason' in their response to the unrest and warned that targeting civilians and police forces constitutes 'a blatant violation of civil peace' that 'must be stopped immediately.' 'We categorically reject military confrontations and call for addressing the root causes of tension through serious and responsible dialogue, away from militarization and sectarian incitement,' the SDC said. Earlier on Friday, the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) blamed the violence on Damascus, saying it failed to 'take into account the sensitivity of the situation in Syria, especially the diversity in components and spectrums.' The new authorities in Damascus, headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group that spearheaded the offensive that drove Bashar al-Assad out of the country in December, have come under repeated criticism for their treatment of minority groups. Kurdish ruling and opposition parties in Rojava have accused Damascus of marginalizing Kurds after they were not invited to a national conference about the future of the country or to sit on the committee tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration. Weeks after taking power, Sharaa said he would respect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups. Clashes have also broken out in the south of the country and Israel has threatened a military incursion to defend Druze communities.
