German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that 80% of the more than 900,000 Syrian nationals in Germany should return to their home country in the next three years.
At a press conference with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Berlin on Monday, Merz said the leaders agreed that over the "longer term of the next three years," around "80% of the Syrians currently in Germany should return to their homeland."
"That was also the wish of President Sharaa," Merz said, adding that "those Syrians who wish to remain in Germany and are well integrated will be able to stay in Germany."
Germany was one of the main destinations for Syrian refugees fleeing the devastating civil war, with around 1 million arriving in the country during dictator Bashar al-Assad's time in power.
Calls for Syrian nationals to leave Germany have risen in conservative and far-right circles following al-Assad's ousting in late 2024 by an Islamist coalition led by al-Sharaa.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
These are the Fastest Italian Sports Cars - 2Inside The Design-Forward Wellness Hotel Marking A New Chapter In Medellín
- 35 VIP Voice Exhibitions in Energized Movies
- 4This country music star spent years hiding his sexuality. Coming out — and beating addiction — has made his soul feel '20 pounds lighter.'
- 5Conquering Language Boundaries: Individual Accounts of Multilingualism
- Faulty glucose monitors linked to 7 deaths and more than 700 injuries, FDA warns
- After harsh winter, Ukrainians find joy in releasing bats rescued from war
- 12 Once-In-A-Lifetime Travel Experiences To Add to Your Bucket List
- Turning into a Distributed Writer: My Composing Process
- 8 Fundamental Stages: Novice's Manual for Secure Your Android with a VPN
- 6 Vehicle Rental Administrations: Pick Your Ideal Ride
- Artemis moon mission breaks record for distance from Earth
- Sweet Taste? Candy Fulfills You
- Germany's Deutsche Welle broadcaster declared 'undesirable' in Russia
