Germany Calling...
Subject: German AfD party proposal for return of refugees back from Germany to Syria, as reported in the National-Zeitung:
20,000 Syrians given a temporary ‘holiday’ permit from Turkey to revisit their homeland decided to NOT to return to Turkey - among other reasons because despite some remaining security issues they found conditions in Syria better than in Turkey itself - and some even quickly got jobs there. Overall, the International Organisation for Migration and the UNHCR have reported that a total of 700,000 refugees, including 443,000 internally displaced Syrians or those from neighbouring countries have already returned to their home towns or villages, and that 76% of remaining refugees plan to do so next year if conditions, including infrastructure and security have improved enough.
Given these facts, and recognising that war in Syria is effectively over, the newly elected representatives of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) in Germany have put forward a proposal that:
“The German government should immediately enter negotiations with the Syrian regime in relation to Syrians taken into protection by Germany”.
Their proposal also includes for a set of sensible repatriation measures that include 1. ensuring that refugees are returned to safe areas 2. have adequate means of living 3. the repatriation could begin first of all with work-capable men - to be followed by other family members resident in Germany when the men have work and adequate living conditions for them have been established for the families 4. during this time provision made for the families in Germany itself will be guaranteed 5. that Syrian children in Germany should already start to receive education in Syrian 6. that a basic amount of financial help should be given to refugees to restart their lives in Syria.
Sounds like a well-thought out, common sense and humanitarian plan for refugee repatriation doesn’t it?
It shares the sentiments expressed by Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who recently appealed for international help in returning Syrians to their homeland. In addition, a resolution agreed by representatives of the Arab League and the EU, together with France, the U.K., Russia, the U.S.A. and China stated that: “It is the command of the hour that the UN and international community undertake all possible efforts for the safe return of displaced Syrians, particularly in peaceful, accessible and undisputed zones” and stressing that NO political conditions (i.e. regime change!) should be attached to these efforts. But which countries and governments will actually respond to this “command of the hour” in the sensible way suggested by the AfD in Germany? And which affected country is actually going to start even just talking to Bashar Al Assad and entering in constructive, cooperative action with the Syrian government to aid in repatriating the vast numbers of genuine Syrian refugees, which - as all parties above agreed - cannot be sustained in Europe?
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