US EditionChancellor Merz and Syrian President Al-Sharaa Discuss Refugee Return and Reconstruction
Chancellor Merz and Syrian President Al-Sharaa agree on refugee return and reconstruction, targeting 1 million Syrians' repatriation.
- On Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz received Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Berlin for his inaugural visit, focusing on postwar reconstruction and refugee repatriation to Syria.
- Al-Sharaa rose to power in December 2024 after ousting former leader Bashar al-Assad, ending nearly 14 years of civil war; Germany lifted sanctions to support Syria's economic recovery.
- Merz announced a joint task force and German delegation to Syria, stating that "around 80% of Syrians currently residing in Germany are expected to return to their home country" over three years.
- Both leaders agreed to establish a 'circular migration' model enabling Syrian professionals to contribute to rebuilding while maintaining stability and residence rights for those choosing to remain in Germany.
- Kurdish community groups protested the visit, citing al-Sharaa's Islamist past and sectarian violence, while critics warned that normalization remains "premature" given Syria's fragile human rights situation.
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139 Articles
Ahmed al-Sharaa's state visit reveals a dilemma. Stability or morality – Germany must make a difficult choice.
Migration: During a joint press conference with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Merz expressed the expectation that the vast majority of the…
Ahmad al-Sharaa, for his part, stated that Syrians in Germany are welcome in their homeland and thanked the Germans for "opening their doors to them" when they were threatened by Bashar al-Assad.
After meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced an ambitious plan: up to 80 percent of Syrians currently living in Germany are expected to return to Syria in the next three years.
The Chancellor and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Shara agreed that most refugees must leave Germany within three years.
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