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Return of Refugees.. Interim Government Evades Its Commitments Towards Expatriates
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Syrian Interim Foreign Minister's statements reflect the transitional government's inability to provide suitable conditions for refugees to safely return to their homeland
Asaad Al-Shaibani, Foreign Minister of the Syrian Interim Transitional Government, ruled out the need for urgent return of Syrian refugees residing in Germany.
Al-Shaibani told the German Press Agency in Damascus: "They are safe there," ahead of his anticipated meeting with German Development Minister Svenja Schulze in the capital.
The Interim Syrian Foreign Minister added that refugees in Germany enjoy better living conditions than their Syrian counterparts scattered in different regions of the world.
Germany hosts about 975,000 Syrian citizens, most of whom arrived as refugees during the civil war years that lasted for more than a decade.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser proposed an initiative allowing Syrians residing in Germany to visit their homeland once without affecting their refugee status, to assess the situation on the ground.
The ministry spokesperson indicated that guidelines for submitting applications for these visits are being prepared.
Levant-Agencies
