The German Development Ministry has warned against repatriating Syrian refugees too quickly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
In a strategy paper seen by dpa, the ministry said “speculation about the cancellation of the protected status of Syrian refugees – whether in Germany or elsewhere – is clearly premature.”
The ministry will continue its support for the countries where most Syrian refugees live “and expand it where necessary.”
In recent years, Germany has provided significant support to the approximately 5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
The ministry also writes that Syria’s new transitional government must now be given clear messages of support, but also of expectations.
“The current rulers in Damascus are sending signs of their willingness to lead the country into a future that allows all ethnic and religious groups in the country to participate on an equal footing,” the paper stated.
“This must not lead to naive hopes. However, it would be negligent not to do everything possible to strengthen and support the possibility of positive change,” the ministry added.
