UPDATE - Germany calls for inclusive political process after fall of Assad regime

UPDATES WITH SCHOLZ’S STATEMENT, CHANGES DECK, LEAD, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Sunday called for an inclusive political process in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime, stressing the need to protect ethnic and religious minorities.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the fall of Bashar al-Assad, pointing out that his regime’s brutal oppression had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, forced millions to flee Syria, with many finding refuge in Germany.

“The end of Assad's rule over Syria is therefore good news. What matters now is that law and order are quickly restored in Syria. All religious communities, all minorities must enjoy protection now and in the future,” he said.

Scholz called on the Syrian opposition forces to launch an inclusive political process, counter foreign interference, and develop peaceful relations with the neighboring countries.

”We will judge future rulers by their ability to ensure that all Syrians can live with dignity and exercise self-rule, defend Syria's sovereignty against malicious interference by third parties, and live in peace with their neighbors,” he said.

Germany, which hosts nearly one million Syrian refugees, closely monitored recent developments as opposition forces launched a lightning offensive, capturing key cities and the capital Damascus in just 10 days. The rapid advance, accelerated by defecting military units, led to the collapse of the Assad regime after 13 years of civil war.

“For millions of people in Syria, the end of Assad means the first big sigh of relief after endless atrocities committed by the Assad regime,” Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement posted on X.

“The people of Syria deserve a better future. They have been through terrible things. An entire generation has grown up under the threat of constant displacement, war, hardship and humanitarian deprivation,” she added.

Baerbock underlined that Bashar al-Assad must he held accountable for the crimes of the regime. “Several hundred thousand Syrians have been killed in the civil war, millions have fled. Assad has murdered, tortured, and used poison gas against his own population,” she said.

Echoing Chancellor Scholz's remarks on careful transition, Baerbock urged all actors “to live up to their responsibility for all Syrians” and to establish an inclusive political process that would protect ethnic and religious minorities while ensuring balanced representation in the future administration.

“If key external and internal actors finally act in the interests of the people in Syria, the long-awaited path to peace could begin,” she said, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2254 as the basis for the country’s transition process.

Baerbock also underlined the importance of international support for this political process, noting that Germany is coordinating closely with the UN, Western partners, and key regional players such as Türkiye to ensure a stable and peaceful transition in Syria.