Bou Habib: The Syrian Refugee Issue is Intensifying the Importance of Electing a President for the Republic

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants in the caretaker government, Abdullah Bou Habib, emphasized that "Lebanon can no longer bear the presence of Syrian refugees." In an interview with "Al-Arabi" television, he noted that "the issue of Syrian refugees is an existential matter and it amplifies the importance of the presidential election, as the displaced people represent a dangerous demographic pressure on Lebanon." He reaffirmed that all Lebanese have agreed that it is unacceptable to have such a massive number of refugees exceeding 2 million. Bou Habib stated, "The Americans have shown more flexibility than before, but the countries surrounding the Eastern Mediterranean have agreed that a decisive decision should be made by the European Union regarding changing its perspective on this displacement crisis." He warned that an explosion of the situation in Lebanon would directly affect all of Europe, especially with decreasing external assistance.