German Chancellor says Berlin supports return of Syrians
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Berlin is working to ensure the return of Syrians residing in Germany to their home country, during a joint press conference with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Berlin.
Speaking at the conference, Merz said, “We are working together to ensure the return of Syrians residing in Germany to their homeland,” according to Reuters.
The German chancellor added that Syrian refugees who have been granted asylum in Germany have an important role in rebuilding their country, noting that Berlin will support those who wish to return.
Merz stated that, in the long term over the next three years, and based on a request also expressed by President al-Sharaa, approximately 80 percent of Syrians currently living in Germany are expected to return to Syria.
On Sunday, President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in the German capital Berlin accompanied by a ministerial delegation to meet senior German officials and discuss ways to develop bilateral relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries.
In a statement, the Syrian presidency said that the German and Syrian sides discussed bilateral relations and prospects for cooperation across various sectors, as well as recent regional and international developments.
The statement added that the meeting, which marks al-Sharaa’s first visit to Germany since the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad in 2024, addressed ways to strengthen economic ties, support economic stability in Syria, reconstruction efforts, the energy sector, and the humanitarian file related to Syrian refugees in Germany.