Damascus, Jan. 3 -- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, arrived in Damascus on Friday for the first official visit since the ouster of President Bashar Assad.

"It is clear to us that the road will be rocky. My today's trip alongside my French colleague, Jean-Noel Barrot, on behalf of the EU is a clear signal: a political fresh-start between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria is possible," Baerbock tweeted.

Baerbock said she came to the Syrian capital with an offer of support and clear expectations for the new Syrian government. She stressed that a fresh start would only be possible if an inclusive political process was guaranteed.

"We want to support them in this: in an inclusi...