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Lebanon calls for return of Syrian refugees to their homeland

Xinhua, February 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun stressed Friday that the Syrian refugees cannot remain in Lebanon "indefinitely," urging the international community to facilitate their return in coordination with the Syrian authorities by establishing safe zones.

According to a statement by the Presidential media office, Aoun made his remarks during a meeting with the United Nations Higher Commission for refugees chief (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi.

However, Aoun asserted that "Lebanon will not oblige refugees to return to their homeland in unstable security conditions."

According to the UNHCR, Lebanon is currently hosting 1.03 million Syrians who fled their war-torn country since the rebellion against the regime of President Bashar Assad was launched in March 2011.

However, the Lebanese government estimates their number might be closer to 1.5 million.

Aoun expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by UNHCR to support Syrians in Lebanon, but he "warned of the negative repercussions of the presence of Syrians in Lebanon on the country's economy."

For his part, Grandi said that the agency was firm on its support for Lebanon, revealing that "the UNHCR, in cooperation with other UN agencies, was discussing with Syrian authorities the gradual return of refugees."

He added that the meeting with Aoun tackled the challenges posed by the presence of refugees in Lebanon and means to locate additional sources for addition aid to Lebanon's state institutions.

"We hope to reach a political solution as a start to restore stability in Syria and pave way for the return of refugees," Grandi added.

He expressed the agency's readiness to assist Syrians willing to return to their homeland.

Grandi later met with Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri also held talks with Grandi in the presence of the State minister for Refugees' affairs Mouein Merehbi.

Grandi said that he agreed with the Prime Minister that the upcoming conference in Brussels, called for by the European Union and attended by many others, "will be a very good opportunity to reiterate the importance of supporting host countries and, in particular, Lebanon." Endit