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‘We want the political process in Syria to move forward and we want to support it as best we can,’ said the Foreign Minister on Thursday at the reopening of the German embassy in Damascus. In her opening speech, which took place in the Seven Gates Hotel rather than in the embassy building, which had been abandoned for 13 years, Baerbock said: ‘As the Federal Republic of Germany, we need our colleagues to be our eyes and ears on the ground.’

The embassy is located on Abdulmunem Al-Riad Street, at the corner of Ebla Street in the Malki district of the Syrian capital. However, there is another address that remains secret for security reasons. Only a small number of diplomats led by Chargé d'affaires, Ambassador Stefan Schneck, and local employees know the secret location.

For the time being, the official address remains symbolic. The embassy remains closed to the general public. It is not even possible to apply for a visa here. As in previous years, you would have to go to the visa offices in other German embassies, especially the consulate in Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon.

For 13 years, a caretaker had looked after the building. Initially, the embassy will ‘only be used occasionally for meetings’, it was said. It is not yet suitable for everyday business. Not only a bullet hole, but possibly also some bugging devices need to be removed and a number of other security precautions taken.

Baerbock promises “a new political start between Europe and Syria and between Germany and Syria.” For this reason, the initially very small team is to be gradually increased. Before the closure in 2012, around thirty German diplomats and around 20 local employees worked here.

In a statement, Ambassador Stefan Schneck, German Special Envoy to Syria, said in Arabic: “Germany is back in Damascus! Even though it will take some time to reopen the embassy, our commitment to the Syrian people is unwavering and we will work together for peace, justice and rebuilding the future. ”

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