ISTANBUL

Continuing the fight against the ISIS (Daesh) terror group is an "absolute priority," France’s foreign minister said Thursday during a visit to Syria.

"For the past 10 years, France has fought, relentlessly and without mercy, against Daesh terrorists in Iraq as well as in Syria,” Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters after meeting Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shibani in Damascus. “I came here to Syria to reaffirm this absolute priority of France,"

Barrot later voiced France's readiness to support Syria to continue integration into the international coalition against Daesh, ensuring the security of camps and prisons and strengthening counterterrorism capabilities.

"I also emphasized the importance of the full implementation of the Jan. 29 agreement, which provides for the integration of the Kurdish component into the security forces and the state apparatus, as well as the presidential decree recognizing the linguistic, cultural, and educational rights of the Kurds," he wrote on US social media company X.

Barrot cited an "important transition" on the path toward "a united Syria, in which each component of this plural country feels recognized and supported."

He also expressed France's "desire" to continue supporting the Syrian transition and enhance cooperation in all fields, highlighting that Paris wants to enable "the return to the population of assets illicitly acquired by the Syrian regime."

"However, the Syrian transition and renewed international engagement in support of the country’s reconstruction—free from any foreign interference—will only be possible if its security and stability are preserved. This requires, first and foremost, as I have said, the continuation of the fight against Daesh. That is our priority," Barrot added.

Barrot arrived Thursday for talks with al‑Shaibani, according to Syrian media.

He was received by Shaibani at the Tishreen Palace.

The visit is the first stop in Barrot’s Middle East tour, which will also take him to Iraq and Lebanon, according to the French Foreign Ministry.