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
One killed, several injured in Iran missile barrage on southern, central Israel - 2The Golden Globes is happening Sunday: Who's nominated, who's hosting and how to watch
- 3Authorities arrest 7 bodyguards in connection with a Mexican mayor's assassination
- 47 Powerful Methods for forestalling Telephone Overheating: Keep Your Gadget Cool
- 5Everyone knows F1 is for the girls. I wandered into the Las Vegas desert to find out why.
- Ethiopian earthquakes and volcanic eruptions: earth scientist explains the link
- Figure out How to Pick the Right Dental specialist for Your Dental Inserts
- The Best 20 Tunes that Characterized an Age
- France bans Muslim gathering citing risk to participants
- The Best 10 Innovation Developments of the Year
- Surveys of Music Collections by Film Stars
- Fuel Price Spike Drives Surge in Used EV Sales in Europe
- Scientists may be overestimating the amount of microplastics in the environment – and the culprit is lab gloves
- Space Condos to Lift Your Metropolitan Living
