Beirut, SANA-Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri has emphasized the importance of cooperation with Syrian authorities and the United Nations regarding the return of Syrian refugees in Lebanon to their home country.
In an interview with the Lebanese online newspaper “Al-Modon,” published Sunday, Mitri revealed a plan for the return of displaced Syrians. This plan includes a concise document outlining the pillars and guiding principles to facilitate or expedite the return of the largest possible number of refugees. He will present this plan to the Council of Ministers at its session tomorrow, Monday.
He noted that cooperation with Syrian authorities and the United Nations—particularly the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM)—both of which have developed an operational plan adopted by the ministerial committee to facilitate repatriation and offer incentives to Syrians willing to return—is essential for the success of this effort.
He also stressed the need to curb illegal border crossings and highlighted the role of General Security in this regard.
Mitri stated, “If serious cooperation with the Syrian state is achieved, as we anticipate, we do not expect any obstacles in the path of this initiative.”
He added that UN agencies believe the plan can be implemented effectively if they begin with Syrian nationals who have expressed willingness to return. He pointed out that hundreds of thousands of Syrians have expressed readiness for swift repatriation by September, thus making them the priority in the first phase.
In this context, Mitri disclosed an upcoming visit by Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani to Beirut, which “may take place before the end of this month.”
He emphasized the significance of the visit, saying it “could represent a qualitative shift in coordinating outstanding issues—ranging from the repatriation of Syrians to border regulation and demarcation, addressing the matter of detainees, cases of missing Lebanese nationals in Syria, and ultimately reviewing bilateral relations based on new foundations of mutual respect and equality.”
Ruaa al-Jazaeri
