Lebanon will work to ensure safe return of Syrians

beirut — Lebanon’s president told EU Foreign Policy Chief Frederica Mogherini on Tuesday that Beirut will continue to work for the return of Syrian refugees to safe areas in their war-torn country without waiting for a political solution. President Michel Aoun added in remarks released by his office that Lebanon will try to ensure that Syrian returnees are not in danger.

The EU had stated in the past that the return of refugees in large numbers should take place after the war in the neighboring country comes to an end.

Aoun and his allies in Lebanon, including the powerful Hezbollah group, support having contacts with the Syrian government saying it would help facilitate the return of refugees. On the contrary, politicians from the Westernbacked coalition, led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, refuse such contacts with Damascus before a solution is reached for the conflict that has killed more than 400,000 people.

Aoun suggested that international assistance to refugees be given to them after they return home in order to encourage them to do so, adding that their presence in Lebanon is making them compete with Lebanese for jobs and increasing emigration among Lebanese citizens.

Thousands of Syrian refugees returned home from Lebanon last year after government forces captured wide parts of the country. —