Report: President 'Determined' to Prioritize Return of Displaced Issue

President Michel Aoun is “determined” to put the return of displaced Syrians issue on the “implementation path” now that safe areas inside Syria can receive them, knowing that refugees “will not be forced to return shall they feel threatened,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

“The file of the return of displaced Syrians will be a priority at the current stage and Aoun is determined in the near future to put the file on the track of implementation after information obtained by the Lebanese state about safe zones inside Syria that can receive them,” reported the daily.

“The Lebanese state has not received any negative response from the Syrian state regarding its readiness to receive its citizens back. It is also known that the Lebanese state, which is also keen on the security of the displaced, will not force any displaced person who feels threatened by security to return at present,” added the daily.

An “assessment meeting” is expected to be held to identify “several operational options that would reconcile between the security of Lebanon and the security of the displaced.”

The daily added that Lebanon will present these options to the representatives of the major powers and the United Nations in order to sponsor such returns and participate in securing their financial, social and health requirements.

For his part, Aoun is keen on taking into consideration the points of view of Lebanon's various political faction so as to evade any dispute over the matter.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs and a security agency, may be responsible for coordinating the project for the immediate repatriation of displaced persons to Syria,” according to the daily.

According to information, Lebanon's determination comes at a time when the security and intelligence reports confirmed the danger of the continued presence of Syrian refugees on Lebanese territory.

“The state will benefit from the recent security incidents in some areas of Lebanon in order to speed up this return and put the international community in front of its responsibilities,” it added.

Aoun had previously presented data at the Cabinet meeting showing statistics about the displaced persons and the increase in crimes committed.

An official source said the Lebanese state is interested in creating a new reality for this subject before the investment conference promised by French President Emmanuel Macron during Aoun's visit last week to Paris.