Ten years after the massive reception of Syrian refugees in Germany desired by Angela Merkel, Berlin and Damascus are reaching a new milestone. Monday March 30, during a press conference in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Syrian President Ahmed al-Chareh (also called Mohammed al-Joulani) announced that their countries were working together to organize the return of hundreds of thousands of Syrians, reports Le Figaro.
Around a million Syrians found refuge in Germany, most of them during the 2015-2016 migration crisis. During his visit to Berlin, Ahmed al-Chareh, a former jihadist, expressed his “deep gratitude” to the German government and people for “opening (their) doors” to refugees while the civil war raged. “You allowed them to find safety here and rebuild their shattered lives”added the forty-year-old.
Towards a target of 80% return
But this civil war is now “finished” and the situation in Syria has “radically changed”said Friedrich Merz. According to him, nothing stands in the way of the return of a large proportion of refugees. “Over the next three years, around 80% of Syrians currently in Germany are expected to return to their home country”continued the chancellor, specifying that people without a valid residence permit and those who “abuse our hospitality and do not respect our laws” would be among the first affected. This figure, however, aroused skepticism from certain experts and politicians, given the persistent fragility of Syria.
Ahmed al-Chareh highlighted the strategic role that these refugees can play, calling them“asset” and “bridge” between Germany and Syria. “Syria can make a strong comeback on the international scene. We have risen from the ruins and want to rebuild our country”he insisted. The Syrian president also presented the return as a “circular migration model”allowing Syrians to participate in reconstruction without abandoning the stability they found in Germany.
The German Chancellor assured his support to Damascus in this process, while specifying that “many projects will also depend on the establishment of a rule of law offering reliable conditions for the economy and for citizens”. He hammered home that “Violence against minorities and dissidents must be a thing of the past”. The return program is accompanied by a reconstruction plan financed by Berlin to the tune of 200 million euros, for drinking water, health and infrastructure projects.
