German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier opposed immediate Syrian refugee deportations, emphasizing war survivors’ need for protection. This contrasts with Chancellor Merz’s stance that Syria’s war has ended and deportations should begin.<\/p>\n
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) \u2013<\/strong> German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday firmly opposed the immediate repatriation of Syrian refugees, pushing back against recent calls from Chancellor Friedrich Merz to resume deportations.<\/p>\n Speaking during an official visit to Ghana, Steinmeier emphasized that those who \u201cstand before the ruins of war\u201d deserve compassion and time to recover. His comments came just days after Foreign Minister Johann Fadevoll visited war-torn Syria, where he acknowledged that the scale of destruction makes the return of large numbers of refugees unrealistic in the near term. Steinmeier refrained from commenting directly on government policy but stated that decisions on repatriation \u201cmust be made by the federal government,\u201d adding, \u201cI am confident it will make the right decision.\u201d The president\u2019s remarks stand in sharp contrast to statements made Monday by Chancellor Merz, who argued that the Syrian civil war is over and that refugees should now begin returning home.
\u201cAnyone who faces the devastation of war, who feels fear and asks aloud whether life is possible amid such destruction, deserves the right to a pause and protection,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is extremely difficult for people to live here with dignity,\u201d Fadevoll said while touring Harasta, a devastated suburb near Damascus.<\/p>\n
He noted his own experience visiting crisis zones as foreign minister, saying, \u201cI know this situation,\u201d referring to the widespread devastation in Syria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe war in Syria has ended. There are no longer grounds for asylum in Germany. Therefore, we can begin deportations,\u201d Merz said in a speech in the city of Husum, Schleswig-Holstein.<\/p>\n