Head of the Administration and Justice Committee, MP George Adwan, stated in a press conference that "the issue of the Syrian presence is one of the biggest challenges we face because it affects identity and sovereignty and has repercussions on the economy and the living conditions of Lebanese people." He emphasized the necessity of definitively establishing a legal framework for the Syrian presence.
He announced that the Administration and Justice Committee has held 21 meetings, in addition to meetings of subcommittees in the presence of several ministries and internal security forces. He noted, "All parliamentary blocs were present at the meetings, and the Administration and Justice Committee was tasked with studying international law, agreements, and Lebanese law." He pointed out that "the committee concluded three results: first, there are no Syrian refugees in Lebanon, which is a host country; second, Syrians in Lebanon are subject to Lebanese law. The third conclusion is that the management of asylum seekers is governed by an agreement signed with the internal security forces in 2003, and any violation of it is considered an infringement of laws and the constitution, which prohibits resettlement."
He continued, "Every Syrian without residency should be returned to Syria, and the Administration and Justice Committee has submitted a recommendation to the Lebanese government on 5/12/2023 to implement it." He confirmed that "existing laws are sufficient for the government to fulfill its obligations regarding the Syrians." He stated, "We studied a proposed law for unregistered individuals in 7 sessions, concluded it, and referred it to the General Secretariat to prevent the entry of any Syrian born after 2011 into Lebanon," adding, "If the government and internal security forces implement the signed agreement and apply Lebanese laws regarding the residency of foreigners, we do not need any additional laws."
He viewed the "Syrian presence in Lebanon as illegal" and warned that no one, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, should attempt to classify the matter differently. He invited anyone with a proposal to host the displaced in their country and apply whatever classifications they wish. He stated, "Countries that preach us about humanity should stop doing so, as they try to serve their own interests. Enough with your finger-pointing. The Minister of Interior should be strict, the internal security forces should fulfill their duties, and the government should allocate all its resources to enhance the army's capabilities to control the borders."
He concluded: "The UN Refugee Commission has committed mistakes, and the High Commissioner does not respect Lebanese sovereignty. I tell him that if the Lebanese government does not exercise its sovereignty, there are forces pushing for the application of sovereignty, and you must adhere to the agreement and stop issuing classifications."
