German FM raises return of refugees during Syria visit

DAMASCUS: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul discussed the possible return of Syrian refugees with President Ahmed Al-Sharaa during a visit to Damascus on Thursday. Germany has a large Syrian community, with hundreds of thousands having settled there after fleeing the civil war. Wadephul said it was “in the understandable interest of the Syrian government to create the conditions for as many Syrians as possible to return.” However, this was currently “only possible to a very limited extent, because a great deal of infrastructure in this country has been destroyed,” he added.