Germany reopens embassy in Syria in cautious thaw with Islamist leaders

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany reopened its embassy in Syria on Thursday, establishing official diplomatic ties with the new leadership in Damascus as it faces deep humanitarian and security problems in rebuilding the country following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

"I am here in Syria for the second time in around 10 weeks because the country and its future are on a knife edge," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at a news conference in Damascus. "We can't predict what will happen in a few months or perhaps a few weeks' time."

Describing the situation on the ground, Baerbock said there was a lack of essentials, especially energy infrastructure, and Germany wanted to support Syria in rebuilding it, for example by modernising power plants.

Germany is home to about 1 million Syrians following an influx of refugees in the last decade, and has sought to send a message of cautious engagement with the new rulers while also urging respect for minorities' rights.

The embassy has a small political team on the ground and will continue to expand its presence in line with the situation locally.

Due to security concerns and limited space, visa and consular matters would continue to be handled from neighbouring Lebanon, Baerbock said.

She said Germany would work with the interim government to facilitate the voluntary return of Syrians to their country.

Baerbock first met Syria's new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa at the start of the year, one month after Islamist rebels led by his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled President Assad following more than 13 years of civil war.

Earlier this month, clashes between Assad loyalists and the country's new rulers killed more than 1,000 people, mostly civilians, according to a war monitoring group.

(Reporting by Alexander Ratz, writing by Rachel More, Editing by William Maclean, Alexandra Hudson)