Berlin, Germany – A German government spokesperson said that Chancellor Friedrich Merz will discuss several important issues during his upcoming meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Berlin next Tuesday.
Among the most prominent of these issues are the political transition process in Syria
and the return of Syrian refugees residing in Germany to their homeland.
The spokesperson explained that Berlin seeks to strengthen relations with the new Syrian government and open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
He also indicated that the return of Syrians to their country is one of the main issues on the meeting’s agenda.
In addition, the meeting will address other political and security issues of mutual interest.
Internal debate on immigration
These talks come amid a significant shift in German immigration policy, nearly a decade
after former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to open the country’s doors to refugees.
That decision led to Germany receiving nearly one million migrants.
Most of these refugees were Syrians fleeing the civil war. Since then, the internal debate surrounding immigration has intensified.
The far-right has also gained popularity. At the same time, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Merz, has adopted
a more hardline stance on border security and has accelerated the deportation of rejected asylum seekers.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians in Germany still hold temporary residence permits.
Rebuilding international relations
As a result, their legal status has become the subject of extensive political and social debate within the country.
The Syrian president’s visit to Berlin is the first of its kind since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2014.
This development represents the Syrian transitional government’s efforts to rebuild its international relations after years of estrangement.
Meanwhile, a German government spokesperson indicated that Berlin is raising the issue of the recent violence,
particularly in Aleppo, during its discussions with the Syrian side.
He also emphasized that the success of the political transition requires ensuring the equal participation
of all segments of Syrian society in political and social life, guaranteeing security and stability for all.
