Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he was surprised by reports that appeared in the Cypriot press on Thursday about the island state’s strained relations with Lebanon over illegal migrants, mainly Syrian nationals, departing from Lebanese shores.
In his introductory address to the Council of Ministers meeting at the Serail, Mikati said he made the necessary contacts with Cypriot authorities to assure them of Lebanon's desire "to maintain the best relations with Cyprus."
As for the issue of displaced Syrians, the Prime Minister deplored the fact that they "enter Lebanon clandestinely," and that "no country is helping us to control our borders." "A reality that the world must understand," he said.
"As far as the maritime borders are concerned, we are working to control them as best we can," he added.
He also revealed that he has urged Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to "put pressure on the European Union at the next meeting of EU Mediterranean countries, in order to help Lebanon repatriate displaced people who enter illegally."
Mikati also pointed out that "this week, the Minister of Social Affairs presented a document specifying Lebanon's requests, in particular, the request to the UNHCR to provide us with complete data on the refugee situation, as the data we have received does not specify the date of entry of refugees into Lebanon."
On a different note, Mikati underscored "the need to declare southern Lebanon an agricultural disaster zone, with repercussions for many years to come."
Six months after the opening of the front in South Lebanon, pitting Hezbollah against Israel, the Prime Minister finally takes stock of the situation.
"The greatest catastrophe is in the agricultural sector: 800 hectares have been completely damaged, 340,000 head of livestock have been lost and around 75% of farmers have lost their last source of income," he lamented.
In this context, he stressed that "Lebanon has friends in every country in the world who are working to put pressure on the Israeli enemy to put an end to its aggression against Lebanon.” He also called on "the international community to condemn the attacks and demand an end to the war."
In his introductory address to the Council of Ministers meeting at the Serail, Mikati said he made the necessary contacts with Cypriot authorities to assure them of Lebanon's desire "to maintain the best relations with Cyprus."
As for the issue of displaced Syrians, the Prime Minister deplored the fact that they "enter Lebanon clandestinely," and that "no country is helping us to control our borders." "A reality that the world must understand," he said.
"As far as the maritime borders are concerned, we are working to control them as best we can," he added.
He also revealed that he has urged Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to "put pressure on the European Union at the next meeting of EU Mediterranean countries, in order to help Lebanon repatriate displaced people who enter illegally."
Mikati also pointed out that "this week, the Minister of Social Affairs presented a document specifying Lebanon's requests, in particular, the request to the UNHCR to provide us with complete data on the refugee situation, as the data we have received does not specify the date of entry of refugees into Lebanon."
On a different note, Mikati underscored "the need to declare southern Lebanon an agricultural disaster zone, with repercussions for many years to come."
Six months after the opening of the front in South Lebanon, pitting Hezbollah against Israel, the Prime Minister finally takes stock of the situation.
"The greatest catastrophe is in the agricultural sector: 800 hectares have been completely damaged, 340,000 head of livestock have been lost and around 75% of farmers have lost their last source of income," he lamented.
In this context, he stressed that "Lebanon has friends in every country in the world who are working to put pressure on the Israeli enemy to put an end to its aggression against Lebanon.” He also called on "the international community to condemn the attacks and demand an end to the war."
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