Vienna, Austria, July 7, 2025. — Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner met in Vienna with his Jordanian counterpart Mazin Abdellah Hilal Al-Farrayeh to discuss issues related to the return of Syrian refugees. The talks took place against the backdrop of changes in Syria following a change of power.
The main topic of the meeting was the discussion of the voluntary return of Syrian refugees after the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. Since then, more than 100,000 people have returned to Syria from Jordan, Karner said at a joint press conference in Vienna, and almost 500 from Austria.
Minister Al-Farrayeh noted that Jordan consistently opposes forced deportations and supports only the voluntary return of Syrians. He emphasized that the country already has similar experience with Iraqi refugees and continues to provide humanitarian aid to more than 1.5 million Syrians, including access to education, medical services, and social support.
The parties also paid special attention to the need for regional cooperation, particularly in the fight against illegal migration, the exchange of intelligence, and police cooperation. The Jordanian minister stressed the importance of strengthening stability in the region against the backdrop of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.