The Austrian authorities have suspended the provision of asylum to refugees from Syria, the Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported, citing sources in the government, APA reports citing TASS.
According to the report, all asylum application procedures for Syrians in Austria will be suspended "until further notice." The newspaper points out that this year alone, 12,500 Syrians applied for asylum, and several thousand applications are currently being processed.
The newspaper noted that earlier, the Austrian Foreign Ministry called for an "orderly and peaceful" transition of power in Syria. The ministry underscored that the protection of human rights, as well as ethnic and religious minorities, must remain a priority during the transition period.
According to the Kurier newspaper, the Austrian Foreign Ministry also plans to reconsider previously made decisions on the provision of asylum to Syrians "due to the changing political situation in the refugees’ country of origin."
"I ordered the preparation of a program for an orderly repatriation and deportation to Syria," Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner said, according to the newspaper. The procedures for family reunification are also being suspended, the report says.
Currently, there are about 95,000 Syrians living in Austria.
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