European countries join Washington in communicating with the new Syrian administration

A French diplomatic delegation arrived in Syria on Tuesday, while the German Foreign Ministry said Berlin planned to hold talks with representatives of the new Syrian administration in Damascus, joining the United States and Britain in making contacts with the administration that led the overthrow of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"France is ready to stand by the Syrians" during the transitional period, French Special Envoy to Syria Jean-François Guillaume told reporters on Tuesday after arriving in Damascus. The French delegation said it had come "to make contact with the de facto authorities" in Damascus, while the French flag was raised Tuesday morning over the French embassy in Damascus, which has been closed since 2012.

The delegation visited the French embassy in Damascus, which has been closed for more than a decade. The French delegation arrived at the embassy in the Muhajireen area. Security personnel were seen opening the embassy door before the delegation entered, a move that came after the transitional authority took over the country after the Assad regime was overthrown. In response to a question about when the embassy would reopen, Guillaume said he could not provide an answer in this regard "as long as security standards are not met."

For his part, a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said that the first talks of German diplomats with representatives of the interim government, appointed by the new Syrian administration, will focus on a transitional process in Syria and the protection of minorities.

The meeting came after British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that a delegation had been sent to hold talks with the Syrian interim authorities and civil society groups following the fall of the Assad regime earlier this month.

(Reuters, AFP, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed)