Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa will visit Berlin next Tuesday, according to a German government spokesperson and the official schedule of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet al-Sharaa to discuss several issues, including the return of Syrian refugees. “We want to strengthen relations and, in a sense, open a new chapter with the new Syrian government. One of the key issues is the return of Syrians to their homeland,” the spokesperson said.

Merz had already invited al-Sharaa in November to Berlin to discuss Germany’s role in stabilizing Syria and facilitating refugee return. He stated that Syria’s civil war has ended, meaning asylum rights for Syrians in Germany no longer apply. He expressed confidence that many refugees will voluntarily return and contribute to reconstruction.

Merz also warned that reconstruction would be impossible without these people, adding that those refusing to return could face deportation in the near future.

Just a week ago, German authorities deported a convicted Syrian refugee, marking the second such case since the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Sources - Agencies