Federal Foreign Office helps Syrian students

The Federal Foreign Office is providing an additional 500,000 euros in 2012 for Syrian students in Germany who find themselves in financial difficulties. The funding is being made available to German universities via the German Academic Exchange Service within the framework of STIBET, a scholarship and support programme for foreign students. The universities can award these funds to students at their own discretion in the form of bridging scholarships.

Commenting on this, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement in New York:

> The appalling situation in Syria is also having a detrimental effect on Syrian students in Germany.

> We want them to be able to continue their studies in Germany despite the terrible developments in their home country.

> The knowledge they have gained in Germany will be needed to rebuild Syria after the fall of the Assad regime.