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BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Syrian FM affirms close ties with Lebanon, discusses immigration issue

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 May 2023 17:52
3 Min Read

Both the Syrian diplomat and his Lebanese counterpart said they agreed refugees must return to their homeland.

  • x
  • Fayssal Mikdad and Abdallah Abu Habib
    Faisal al-Miqdad and Abdallah Abu Habib (SANA)

Foreign and Expatriates Minister Faisal al-Miqdad on Tuesday said that relations between Syria and Lebanon are "close" and that cooperation in various matters of mutual concern is ongoing, SANA reports.

On the sidelines of the preparatory meeting for the Arab Summit that is being held in Jeddah and after talks were held with Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib, al-Miqdad said that "the meeting was friendly" and displayed close relations between the two countries. 

Al-Miqdad further said that during his meeting, "we touched upon matters relating to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon and coordination between delegations of Syria and Lebanon in the two countries' concerns," noting that "the atmospheres are good."

"We both agreed that Syrian refugees must return to their homeland, and this return requires considerable efforts to be channeled for their return. But whether Western countries encourage them to return or not, Syria welcomes all its people," he said.

"Asylum is a matter of concern than carries burdens, but Syria wants all its refugee children to return to their homeland so that this burden is addressed by the homeland itself, not by others."

Read more: Preparatory meetings for Arab League held in Jeddah, Syria attended

This comes at a time when Caretaker Minister of Justice Henry El-Khoury announced that a Lebanese ministerial and technical delegation would visit Syria to discuss the repatriation of displaced Syrians to Syria.

Related News

Tensions ease in Sweida as all detainees released amid mediation

Fierce clashes breakout in Syria's Sweida, leading to displacement

The matter has sparked widespread controversy with some demanding that they be returned once the situation in Syria has stabilized and others rejecting their return before security "guarantees" are provided. 

The number of Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon currently stands at approximately 1.5 million, nearly 900,000 of whom are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and most of them live under difficult living conditions.

It is noteworthy that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received last February a Lebanese ministerial delegation headed by Bou Habib.

Al-Assad said during the meeting, "The relationship between Lebanon and Syria is a brotherly relation between two peoples, and this is the basis on which official policies are supposed to be based on serving the common interests of the two peoples and working to meet the challenges they face."

On May 15, Syrian Foreign Minister al-Miqdad landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport as part of a high-level delegation to participate in the preparatory meetings for the Arab Summit, which is scheduled to be held on May 19.

On May 7, the League of Arab States announced Syria's return to the League after suspending its membership in the wake of the 12-year war in the country.

Mikdad, in a press statement following the preparatory meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Jeddah: We work together with our Arab brothers, and all Arabs welcome the Syrian role and there are no differences over issues related to Syria+ pic.twitter.com/IRa8rl0Bxk

— Suat KılıçtaÅŸ (@Suatklcts) May 17, 2023

Read more: More than 71mln people internally displaced worldwide in 2022: Reports

  • Syria
  • Abdallah Bou Habib
  • Faisal Al-Miqdad

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