Visit to the Gulf region: Baerbock: No “unconditional normalization” with Assad

Shortly before the Arab League summit, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned of an “unconditional normalization” in dealings with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.

“Every step towards Assad should be made dependent on concrete concessions,” said the Green politician after a meeting with her Saudi Arabian colleague Faisal bin Farhan in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. Assad should not be “rewarded for the most serious human rights violations on a daily basis.” Assad is expected at the meeting in Jeddah on Friday.

The Arab countries had recently agreed on Syria’s re-admission to the organization, which has around 20 members. They are thus promoting ongoing normalization with Assad in the region, who was isolated for years after the civil war broke out in Syria in 2011.

In the West, talks with Assad, whose government has imposed extensive sanctions on the EU and the US, are considered taboo. These punitive measures were in response to the Assad government’s violent repression of the civilian population. A civil war with international participation later developed from the mass protests against Assad.

“In Syria, the political process to resolve the conflict is still a long way off. For more than ten years there has only been bloodshed, unbelievable human suffering that is hardly reported anymore,” said Baerbock. Germany and partners in the region were hoping for a signal from the summit meeting on Friday that normalization with Assad would be subject to specific conditions.

Baerbock calls for a ceasefire in Sudan

The minister urgently called for a ceasefire in north-east African Sudan. A long-simmering power struggle there escalated violently about a month ago. According to the UN, at least 604 people have died and at least 5,100 have been injured. The actual number is likely to be significantly higher.

“The world is watching Sudan, how the generals are fulfilling their responsibilities to all the people of Sudan,” Baerbock said. “We must therefore do everything we can to ensure that the conflict does not become a regional conflagration.” Another question is how Germany can expand its contribution to humanitarian aid.

German-Saudi relationship

Relations between Germany and Saudi Arabia were considered shattered for years, mainly because of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the war in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The former federal government had therefore largely stopped arms exports to the desert state.

However, the traffic light government approved the delivery of armaments for 44.2 million euros in 2022, more than since 2018. Before Baerbock, there was a German foreign minister in the country in 2017.

Baerbock insists on women’s rights

With regard to the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, Baerbock said that the first steps towards opening up society had encouraged many young people in the country. At the same time, she warned: “For me, it goes without saying that a society that wants to be a role model for an entire region also listens to the voices of its women – online and offline.”

Meeting with the artist scene in Saudi Arabia

In the evening, Baerbock met with representatives of the Saudi art scene, including Abdulnasser Gharem and Halla bint Chalid, at the Hai Jamil cultural center on the initiative of the German Embassy.

Abdulnasser Gharem is considered a pioneer of contemporary art in Saudi Arabia. After 23 years in the Saudi army, the lieutenant colonel retired from the military in 2013 to pursue art. In his studio villa in Riyadh, he promotes “free and open dialogue” and organizes cultural events. His works, which often have a critical message, can be seen around the world, for example in London and Los Angeles.

Halla bint Chalid is a painter and at the same time one of the best-known children’s book authors in Saudi Arabia. She is also regarded as a pioneer in the profession, which is still young there. She has authored more than a dozen children’s books in Arabic and English.

Freedom of expression is extremely restricted in the conservatively governed monarchy. Criticism of the royal family is pursued with all severity and can mean years of imprisonment. Art in the country often walks a fine line between subtle criticism and restraint for fear of possible repression.

Baerbock sees great potential for renewable energies

In view of the climate crisis, Germany and Saudi Arabia wanted to deepen their cooperation in the transformation of industry and the economy, said Baerbock. With the expansion of renewable energies, with green hydrogen, there is “an incredible potential, especially in the field of solar energy, but also with wind”.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest oil producers in the world. As part of a comprehensive economic restructuring, the country wants to become less dependent on oil and gas and become a leading supplier of hydrogen as part of the so-called “Vision 2030”.

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