The Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Committee convened today, Tuesday, in the House of Representatives, chaired by Deputy Fadi Alama, with the presence of Minister of Social Affairs and Displaced Persons in the caretaker government Hector Hajar, Issam Sharaf al-Din, and the deputies. The committee called for the implementation of the return plan and its connection to a practical execution plan on the ground.
Alama stated, "The meeting was important and addressed the issue of new displacements and the large numbers of Syrians entering Lebanon due to the deteriorating economic conditions in Syria, which we hear about in statements, media, and from security agencies."
He added, "We called for this meeting to gather more information, with the attendance of the Ministers of Social Affairs and Displaced Persons and Foreign Affairs, the officers responsible in the army, internal security forces, and general security, in addition to fellow deputies and some departments concerned with the displacement file. The Refugee Commission also listened to the concerns raised by the Lebanese side."
He continued, "The meeting concluded with the following recommendations: to form a committee for negotiations so that the government can begin its work because governance of the file has not been successful so far. There is a need for political support for the security forces, which are making tremendous efforts within the available capabilities, and to activate agreements between Lebanon and Syria to solve these issues."
The committee urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue coordination with international bodies to support the issue of the return of displaced persons in the international community and requested that the Refugee Commission have greater follow-up involvement.
It also mentioned "responding to the invitation of the security forces and heading to the border between Lebanon and Syria to observe the situation on the ground, as border control requires support. There is a wish for the Central Security Council to convene to make a decision and reach a consensus on the necessity of communication with the Syrian government through an official delegation."
