KABUL: Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have agreed on a plan to facilitate the return of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, according to a report by Reuters.
The agreement came during al-Sharaa’s one-day visit to Germany, where the two leaders discussed post-war reconstruction and migration.
Merz said Germany expects that around 80% of the 700,000 to 800,000 Syrians currently in the country could return to Syria over the next three years to help rebuild their homeland.
He added that Berlin would support Syria’s reconstruction efforts and cooperate to ensure voluntary returns for those willing to go back.
Al-Sharaa, for his part, expressed gratitude for Germany’s acceptance of Syrian refugees during the civil war, saying Damascus aims to work with Berlin on a “circular migration” model allowing skilled Syrians to contribute to rebuilding efforts.
The developments come amid political changes in Syria after the collapse of the previous government led by Bashar al-Assad.
Syria, Germany agree on return of hundreds of thousands of refugees
