For the first time in 15 years, an Austrian minister was supposed to enter Syrian land again on Thursday. After the fall of the dictator Assad, the country that was demolished by the civil war opened, also the hope that also with refugees who could return to their home country. But the delicate mission together with the German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser burst into the last minute. The “crown” is on site.
The statement of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior is clear: “Due to the concrete warnings of the German and Austrian security authorities for a terrorist threat, Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner and the German Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser have a planned work trip to the Syrian capital Damascus for departure from the Jordan Amman. The possible threat to the delegations and the safety forces used was not responsible. It could not be excluded that the danger with regard to the German and the Austrian delegation. “
All conversations canceled
The trip was planned under high safety measures and was not announced in advance. In the morning, discussions of Faeser and Minister of the Interior Karner with representatives of the United Nations, the UN refugee agency UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Food Program should take place for the first time in Damascus. Subsequently, discussions with the Minister of the Interior of the Syrian transitional government were planned.
Breaks for asylum efforts
As reported, Austria has suspended all asylum applications of Syrians after the autumn of the Assad regime, initiated thousands of disclosure and advertises for a voluntary return: “At the same time, an orderly return and deportation program is preparing in the Ministry of the Interior”, says “on the site interior.
With his German counterpart, diplomatic conversations in Amman had previously held with the Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs. Jordan, who himself has accepted millions of Syrian refugees, plays a key role in the current asylum crisis, but has been heavily charged with it for years.
In Damascus, Karner and Faeser would meet the interim and foreign ministers of the Haiat Tahrir al-Scham (HTS), the Islamist militia alliance that President Bashar al-Assad had overthrown. “The situation is still very volatile, but we have to look for the conversation,” said the German Minister of the Interior before the “Kroon” ends.
Karner continues: “It’s about deporting criminals and dangers and wanting to push voluntary return.”
The focus of the conversations must be security issues and perspectives to reduce Syrian refugees in the case of stabilizing Syria. Austria and Germany in particular work intensively on the fact that serious criminals and amounts with Syrian citizenship can be deported to Syria as quickly as possible.
The terrorist threat is now a bitter setback for these efforts.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
