Merz: Berlin, Damascus cooperate on return of Syrian refugees to their country

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated during his meeting with the head of Syria’s transitional government, Ahmad al-Sharaa, today in Berlin, that both sides are working together on the return of Syrian refugees in Germany to their home country.

Merz said during a press conference in the German capital alongside al-Sharaa:
"We are working together so that Syrian women and men can return to their homeland."

Germany hosts the largest Syrian community in the European Union, with more than one million people, most of whom arrived during the peak of the migration wave recorded in 2015–2016 amid the Syrian crisis.

Al-Sharaa stated during the press conference:
"We are working with our partners in the German government to establish a circular migration program that allows Syrian talents to contribute to the reconstruction of their homeland without abandoning the life they have built in Germany, for those who wish to remain."

Merz also announced Germany’s intention to support the reconstruction of Syria after the war, noting that a delegation from the German government will visit Damascus for this purpose in the coming days.

However, he revealed that he had made it clear to his guest during their meeting that these joint projects remain contingent upon progress in strengthening the rule of law in Syria.

ANHA