German FM not surprised by refusal of Syria's new authorities to shake her hand

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called the refusal of representatives of the new authorities of Syria to shake her hand expected.

“As soon as I arrived, it became clear to me that the usual handshakes will clearly not be here,” she said, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

At the meeting, with the Syrian authorities in the composition of the German delegation were men. It is noteworthy that the representatives of the Syrian authorities themselves extended their hands for a handshake.

During her unannounced visit to Syria on January 3, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was met with a striking refusal by representatives of the new Syrian authorities to shake her hand.

The encounter, captured on video and reported by Die Welt, shows Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the new Syrian government, offering his hand to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot but refusing to do so with Baerbock.

Instead, al-Sharaa and other Syrian officials placed their hands on their hearts in a gesture of refusal.

By Khagan Isayev