Why is Merkel Calling for Dialogue With Assad?

Angela Merkel spoke in favor of attracting legitimate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to find a solution to the refugee problem caused by the Syrian conflict. The initiative was positively assessed by Moscow, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.

In her official statement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that the West should mind a number of important issues in its politics, if it wants to stop the flow of millions of refugees, fleeing their homeland for various reasons, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.

First of all, the Chancellor spoke about the causes of the current refugee crisis, such as war, genocide, famine, poverty or lack of prospects.

Those who are not willing to at least try to reduce the negative factors triggering the mass exodus of the whole country as Syria will not be able to cope with the problem, no matter how optimistic assertions of politicians may sound, German newspaper wrote, citing Merkel’s words.

Merkel argued that it is important to remain hospitable towards refugees, but at the same time take practical steps to resolve the problem, including a dialogue with the current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russian authorities immediately welcomed Merkel’s initiative and spoke in favor of engaging the Syrian leader to find a solution.

However, the newspaper viewed Merkel’s proposal rather as a sign of her “confusion and helplessness rather than a brilliant chess move that will be remembered in history as Merkel’s plan”.