The heads of the foreign ministries of France and Germany arrived in Damascus

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who is travelling to the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday on an unannounced visit, is setting conditions for Syria's new de facto rulers for a resumption of relations with Germany and the European Union.

"A political new beginning between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria, is possible," the Green Party politician said about her visit to Damascus.

She said she was arriving with her French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, and on behalf of the EU "with this outstretched hand, but also with clear expectations of the new rulers."