- 07
- May
- 2024
Syrian Migrants: Lebanese Forces to Present Law Proposal to Parliament
modified on 12 May 2024 à 19:15 Read : 3 minute(s) A A A
The President of the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and Justice, Georges Adwan, announced that a draft law on organizing the presence of Syrians in Lebanon and the modalities of their repatriation will be presented to Parliament.
During a press conference he held on Tuesday at Place de l'Étoile, Adwan called for "sending back home any Syrian without documents," emphasizing that the committee he chairs "had already submitted a recommendation to the Lebanese government on 5/12/2023 for it to implement."
The Lebanese Forces (LF) member reiterated that "Lebanon is a host country and not a place for asylum in accordance with the 2003 agreement signed between the Lebanese state and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)," adding that to solve the current problem, it is sufficient to "implement this agreement, as well as the law on the stay of foreigners" in Lebanon.
"Each party must assume its role in this regard: the Ministry of Interior, General Security, Internal Security Forces, and the relevant ministries," Adwan argued, stressing the importance of "supporting the Lebanese army to make it capable of controlling the border between Lebanon and Syria."
When asked about the number of displaced Syrians on which the committee will base its decisions (either from the UNHCR or the Lebanese government), Adwan replied, "We will consider all figures. Any Syrian without a residence permit in accordance with the law on the stay of foreigners established in 1962, is considered an illegal resident. Therefore, they should either return home or go to a third country."
Regarding the European donation of one billion euros, the MP from Chouf revealed "it could be approved if it is a donation without conditions for the Lebanese. But if the donation serves as a 'sedative' for the Lebanese to tolerate the presence of Syrians among them, it will be rejected." He added, "We will accept this donation, provided that others do not expect us to keep Syrians among us."
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, had summoned the deputies to a parliamentary session on May 15 to discuss the European Union's proposed donation of one billion euros to Lebanon to assist in managing the issue of the massive Syrian presence in the country and, notably, to prevent the flow of migrants to Cyprus.
Adwan's remarks suggest that the Lebanese Forces could approve this donation if it is confirmed that it is not tied to any conditions, which is not usually the case, since part of this donation, intended to develop the army's capabilities in border control, primarily aims to encourage Lebanon to stem the flow of migrants to Cyprus.
Adwan did not want to indicate whether his party, which staunchly opposes the chaotic presence of Syrian migrants in the country, will participate in the parliamentary meeting on May 15.
According to a source from the LF parliamentary bloc, it was indicated that the LF, who are boycotting parliament meetings until a president is elected, have not yet made a decision on this matter.
"We want to know where this donation is going before taking a position," the same source emphasized, explaining that "the stakeholders in this issue are four: the donors, UN agencies and other NGOs, Syrians in Lebanon, and the Lebanese state." "It is the Lebanese state that must make the sovereign decision to stop subsidies and push for the return," the same source said, noting that Syrians "who came to Lebanon for security reasons are staying there for economic interests."
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