Mazen Alloush, Director of the International Relations and Cooperation Administration, met with a Swedish delegation on Wednesday to discuss joint cooperation on migration, voluntary return, and reintegration programs.
The delegation was led by Kjell Terje Torvik of the Swedish Migration Agency, accompanied by Jesper Hager, Deputy Head of Mission at the Swedish Embassy in Damascus.
According to a statement released on the administration’s official Telegram channel, the talks focused on strengthening bilateral coordination to facilitate the voluntary and safe return of Syrian expatriates. Discussions covered improvements to border‑crossing operations, institutional capacity building, and the exchange of operational expertise.
Alloush underscored that enabling the return of Syrian nationals remains both a national and humanitarian priority. He highlighted ongoing efforts to streamline entry procedures, upgrade infrastructure at border crossings, and ensure dignified reception measures that ease the burdens associated with returning home.
He added that sustainable return requires more than logistical facilitation. Long‑term reintegration, he said, depends on coordinated national and international efforts to expand employment opportunities, restore access to essential services, and improve living conditions so that returnees can reintegrate smoothly into their communities.
Advancing Bilateral Cooperation
Alloush also emphasized the broader importance of strengthening institutional communication between Syrian and Swedish authorities. He reaffirmed the administration’s readiness to engage in joint initiatives aimed at modernizing border management and improving service standards for travelers and returnees.
Both sides agreed to maintain ongoing coordination and pursue practical avenues of collaboration to support sustainable voluntary return.
The meeting follows discussions on September 29 between Qutaiba Badawi, Head of the General Authority for Ports and Customs, and Ash Karl, Head of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Syria. Those talks focused on modernizing border ports, improving passenger services, and enhancing emergency response readiness across the country’s border crossings.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
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