Turkey Announces Plan to Repatriate One Million Syrian Refugees Within a Year
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has promised to repatriate one million Syrian refugees within a year, a key campaign promise ahead of his third decade in power.
However, the plan to return Syrians to rebel-held areas controlled by Turkey's enemies faces significant challenges.
Syrians are hesitant to return to areas under Assad's control, and the reconstruction of new housing in northern Syria with Qatari help implies a redoubling of Turkey's commitment to the region, which could further escalate tensions with Syria.
The repatriation plan is also seen as a way to appease Turkish voters who are increasingly resentful of the refugees.
Analysts predict that any sign of Turkish forces leaving northern Syria would prompt more Syrians to try to flee for Turkey, exacerbating the refugee crisis.
Erdogan's diplomatic shift towards Assad has been driven partly by the goal of facilitating refugee returns, but the rapprochement is moving more slowly than the thaw between Assad and other regional governments.
In a post-election speech, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief foreign policy adviser, Ibrahim Kalin, stated that Turkey wants to return Syrian migrants to their home countries in a safe, dignified, and voluntary manner.
International refugee law requires all returns to be voluntary.
Turkey plans to secure the return of 1-1.5 million Syrians in the first place.
Samir Alabdullah, a researcher at the Harmoon Center for Contemporary Studies, stated that Syrians are relieved after Erdogan's victory and do not expect any policy changes on migration.
Syrians are hesitant to return to areas under Assad's control, and the reconstruction of new housing in northern Syria with Qatari help implies a redoubling of Turkey's commitment to the region, which could further escalate tensions with Syria.
The repatriation plan is also seen as a way to appease Turkish voters who are increasingly resentful of the refugees.
Analysts predict that any sign of Turkish forces leaving northern Syria would prompt more Syrians to try to flee for Turkey, exacerbating the refugee crisis.
Erdogan's diplomatic shift towards Assad has been driven partly by the goal of facilitating refugee returns, but the rapprochement is moving more slowly than the thaw between Assad and other regional governments.
In a post-election speech, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief foreign policy adviser, Ibrahim Kalin, stated that Turkey wants to return Syrian migrants to their home countries in a safe, dignified, and voluntary manner.
International refugee law requires all returns to be voluntary.
Turkey plans to secure the return of 1-1.5 million Syrians in the first place.
Samir Alabdullah, a researcher at the Harmoon Center for Contemporary Studies, stated that Syrians are relieved after Erdogan's victory and do not expect any policy changes on migration.