Germany and Austria cancel visit to Damascus due to potential security threat.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and her Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner canceled an unannounced visit to Damascus on Thursday, March 27, due to security warnings of a "potential terrorist threat." The purpose of the visit was to discuss Syrian refugee issues and related security matters. A spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry stated that "due to specific security warnings regarding a terrorist threat, Minister Faeser canceled her trip to Damascus before departing from the Jordanian capital, Amman," confirming that the decision was made in coordination with the Austrian side. The spokesperson added that "the potential threat repercussions on the delegation and accompanying security forces were not tolerable," indicating that the threat could have been directed at both the German and Austrian delegations. The minister and her accompanying delegation were supposed to be transported to Damascus via a German Air Force plane. The visit was planned under strict security measures and without prior announcement, with the ministers expected to meet with officials from the Syrian transitional government and representatives of UN relief organizations. The planned discussions focused on security issues and the possibility of the return of Syrian refugees, especially criminals posing a security threat. The spokesperson emphasized that "Germany and Austria are working intensively to ensure the return of dangerous criminals holding Syrian nationality to their country as soon as possible."