German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived on an official visit to Syria and was once again met with a refusal to shake hands with the head of the Syrian government, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
URA-Inform reports this, citing the BILD Telegram channel in Russian.
The incident comes after Baerbock was rejected in Syria earlier this year when she visited the country with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. At the time, al-Sharaa happily shook hands with his French counterpart, but Baerbock turned him down.
This time, when she saw a possible refusal, Baerbock was apparently prepared and did not extend her hand to al-Sharaa to avoid public humiliation. The situation again raised the issue of cultural differences in attitudes towards men and women in some countries. It is important to note that such cultural barriers do not exist in relations with politicians from other Muslim countries, such as Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who always shook Baerbock’s hand with respect.
“Every visit is an opportunity to improve diplomatic relations, even if there are certain cultural differences,” said the German Foreign Ministry spokesman.
The Quran itself does not clearly indicate a ban on handshakes between men and women, but culture and traditions in different Muslim countries can vary significantly on this issue.
Baerbock's visit was intended to symbolically reopen the German embassy in Damascus, which had been closed for 13 years. The event signals the restoration of diplomatic relations between Germany and Syria, despite existing cultural and political differences.
The Syrian leader's refusal to shake hands once again showed the importance of cultural and political differences in the international arena. As diplomatic relations evolve, it is important to take into account the different traditions and norms of behavior in different countries.
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