Believe Quote by John F. Kerry
![“I met with many of - a number of [Syrian] refugees in Berlin the other day, and I was struck by how educated, intelligent, and patriotic they are. They want to go back. They love their country. And there are so many of them still in Jordan and in refugee camps in Lebanon and in Turkey, that if you…” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c3d/john-f-kerry-996_believe_i-met-with-many-of-a-number-of-syrian-re_3087524.jpg)
“I met with many of - a number of [Syrian] refugees in Berlin the other day, and I was struck by how educated, intelligent, and patriotic they are. They want to go back. They love their country. And there are so many of them still in Jordan and in refugee camps in Lebanon and in Turkey, that if you could create the climate within which they could begin to come back, I believe there is such a history of secularism within Syria, even tolerance within Syria, that if we can deal with ISIL, yes. That's the key. And with ISIL there, not a chance.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Syrian Refugees, Berlin, 2015
Educated Syrian refugees desire return to a secular, tolerant homeland if peace returns, highlighting the need for a supportive environment after conflict.
In simple terms: Refugees want to go home when safety is restored.
Key Takeaway
Create conditions for safe repatriation.
Themes
refugee rights
repatriation
secularism
conflict resolution
national identity
Mood
hopeful
concerned
Type
political
humanitarian
When to use this quote
- humanitarian aid planning
- policy development
- community integration
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
political science
human rights
diaspora studies
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies can facilitate safe return?
- How does secularism affect reintegration?
A Different Perspective
Security concerns may impede return despite desire.
![“People talk about [Bashar] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What is this fiction that he is somehow the only person who can save Syria? There's - with Assad there, there is no Syria. So that's what the Iranians and the…” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f3d/john-f-kerry-996_assad_people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-s_24339.jpg)
![“You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as [Bashar] Assad is, in fact, there.” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/41d/john-f-kerry-996_assad_you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long_56711.jpg)
