Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani categorically denied the existence of any agreement with Germany or European countries to immediately return hundreds of thousands of Syrians.
In an interview with Euronews on Tuesday, 12 May, al-Shaibani explained that discussions with the European side addressed only a return mechanism that would not obstruct the reconstruction process, noting that the return of Syrians is linked to the availability of suitable economic and living conditions and all aspects of life.
He stressed that Damascus does not encourage the unorganized and rapid return of refugees, warning that this could turn Syrians from refugees abroad into displaced people inside the country.
He also emphasized that reconstruction requires the engagement of the international community, especially the European Union, to support the Syrian government and secure the “safe environment” needed for this path.
At the same time, the Syrian minister rejected the claim that Syria remains an unsafe country, saying he does not agree with that argument, especially as European countries no longer grant refugee status to those leaving Syria because they now see the situation in the country as safe and stable.
However, he noted that imposing a “non-voluntary and undignified return” on Syrians could lead to “chaos in Syria,” pointing out that the situation requires preparing the appropriate environment before any large-scale return.
These clarifications came after statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said at a press conference with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the end of March that he had agreed with Syria on the return of 80% of refugees in Germany.
Al-Sharaa later said those statements had come from the German chancellor, who in turn also walked them back and said they had been attributed to the Syrian president.
The Syrian foreign minister had participated in the Syrian-European Forum, held in Brussels on 11 May.
During a joint press conference with the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, the European official said Europe is working to facilitate the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees, pointing to an investment conference to be organized at the end of this year to support Syria and the return of refugees.
Destruction Hinders Refugees’ Return
Al-Shaibani said the main reason the remaining refugees have not returned is that “Syrian cities and towns were destroyed by the Assad regime,” making reconstruction a core priority for the current government.
He explained that Damascus is now working to launch reconstruction and bring recovery to all Syrian cities and towns, noting that Syria was able, in just a year and a half, to attract investments estimated at $62 billion.
Al-Shaibani said this figure reflects interest in Syria, adding that “everyone now sees Syria as a stable and safe country.”
The minister also acknowledged the presence of challenges, but stressed that “there is no security chaos and no political chaos” in the country, affirming the presence of a “government that is continuously doing its work,” alongside a strategic vision that has received international recognition.
He said this recognition was reflected in the lifting of European and US sanctions, the reopening of several European embassies in Damascus, and the relocation of diplomatic missions that had been operating from neighboring countries to the Syrian capital.
Syrian foreign relations have witnessed an opening toward regional and international countries, including the lifting of Western sanctions imposed on the country during the Assad regime era.
Large numbers of Syrian refugees have also been seen returning, especially from neighboring countries such as Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon, but these figures have not been matched by similar returns of Syrian refugees from European countries, where no large-scale returns have been recorded.
Syrian-European Relations
The Syrian foreign minister said the European position over the past years did not differ much from the positions of other countries, considering that there was a “political inability” that prevented helping the Syrian people “change the regime.”
Al-Shaibani added that “the Syrian people were able to liberate themselves with their own hands and with very limited Syrian capabilities,” despite years of war and isolation.
He explained that Syrians today “are looking for partners, not disputes or to be placed in the dock,” noting that anyone who wants to support Syria “must move from words to action.”
Al-Shaibani stressed that any party seeking to build a strong partnership with the “emerging and ambitious Syrian state” must take practical steps that “convince the Syrian people and convince the Syrian government.”
He also emphasized that current Syrian policy is built “on Syrian national interests” and is not based on “the whims of any other country,” adding, “We are not required to be what others want us to be. Rather, we want to build partnerships based on shared interests, threats, and visions.”
Regarding European conditions linked to protecting minorities and internal reforms, al-Shaibani noted that the former regime was the source of major crises that the European Union could not resolve, despite their direct repercussions for Europe and the region.
He listed these files as including “migration, terrorism, exporting Captagon, political instability, persecution, killing, the missing, prisons, and the absence of political relations with the Arab surroundings and with the European Union.”
He said these files “returned to their correct path after the regime was toppled,” considering that the European Union now understands “exactly what it is doing when it engages with Syria,” and also recognizes “Syria’s importance and the real steps taken by the Syrian government toward the Syrian people as a whole, not toward only a minority or a majority.”
The minister stressed that the Syrian government believes in “all the Syrian people” and in the country’s diversity, affirming that Damascus wants all Syrians to enjoy “their full rights based on their freedom, not based on their sect, culture, or religious background.”
European governments are demanding that the Syrian government respect minorities and carry out some internal reforms related to expanding freedoms and respecting human rights.
Impact of a War With Iran on Syria
The Syrian foreign minister addressed regional tensions, considering that any confrontation between Iran and the United States would have a direct impact on Syria and the entire region.
Al-Shaibani said Syria has a fragile economy and is now in the phase of rebuilding the economy and building economic partnerships with the region, and therefore any war or conflict of this scale would have a very significant economic impact, in his words.
He affirmed that the Syrian government adopted “an approach based on keeping Syria away from conflicts,” explaining that the country emerged from a war that lasted 14 years and today needs stability to “establish the reconstruction process and secure a safe environment for Syria’s stability and the return of Syrians.”
Al-Shaibani concluded his remarks by stressing that Damascus supported diplomatic tracks and de-escalation in the region, warning that any new war would affect all countries of the region without exception.
The Syrian government has maintained a position of neutrality toward the ongoing military conflict in the region between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.
Despite some military provocations, such as the fall of some Iranian military objects after they were intercepted by Israeli air defenses over Syrian territory, in addition to some attacks on Syrian territory by Iraqi armed groups known for their affiliation with Iran, Damascus has not carried out any military response to these moves.
It has also maintained a political position expressing solidarity with all Gulf states against Iranian attacks and affirming the right of these states to take all measures to preserve their sovereignty.
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