Interior and Municipalities Minister Bassam Mawlawi, during the launch of a roadmap for organizing the legal status of Syrian refugees, emphasized that "we will not accept the displacement of Lebanese citizens or their lack of job opportunities, and we are responsible for maintaining Lebanon's image and rights." He called for "the application of Lebanese laws concerning housing and the legality of work in institutions," noting that they are "ready to negotiate with the international and Arab communities towards a clear return plan for Syrian refugees within a specified timeframe." He added, "Beirut, which brings the world together, should not be accused of racism, and we reject this accusation,” affirming support “for all municipalities to secure their rights, and we have not delayed in addressing this issue. We deny all that was circulated yesterday regarding the cancellation of committees related to municipalities."
In turn, Acting Director General of General Security, Major General Elias Bsissy, announced that "a convoy of refugees will head to Syria, and we must handle the issue seriously in a way that serves Lebanese interests," confirming that "we are open to various initiatives that serve future executive plans." Bsissy affirmed during the launch of the roadmap for organizing the legal status of Syrian refugees and their return mechanism, "we will spare no effort to enforce laws to preserve the state's sovereignty, and we renew the resumption of voluntary returns. Lebanon is a transit country, not a country of asylum, and we emphasize combating illegal immigration through all border crossings."
He explained that "the roadmap addresses the roots of the crisis and avoids forcible return while controlling and addressing the situation of Syrian displacement until their voluntary return to their country." He pointed out, "We strive to protect the Lebanese workforce and prevent illegal ownership," stressing that "the issue of births poses a challenge to the displacement file."
