Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has pledged to take all necessary steps to resolve the long-standing issue of Lebanese citizens missing in Syria, promising to remove any obstacles that stand in the way of progress on the sensitive humanitarian file.
During a meeting on Tuesday with the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared, Rajji assured the delegation of his commitment to the cause. “We will do everything necessary to resolve the dossier,” he said, “by removing any diplomatic or political obstacles that may stand in the way of this issue.”
He further emphasized the importance of keeping the issue above political considerations, stating, “The issue of Lebanese missing persons in Syria is at the top of my priorities, based on the belief that human beings and missing persons come before anything else.”
Rajji informed the Commission that he is preparing for an upcoming meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Ahmad al-Shaibani, during which he will deliver the official file compiled by the Ministry of Justice. According to him, the Syrian government has expressed full willingness to cooperate in efforts to clarify the fate of the missing.
The Commission delegation used the meeting to highlight the challenges they face and the urgency of their mission. They stressed the need for greater support from the Lebanese government and called for a comprehensive effort to verify the still-uncertain number of Lebanese who remain unaccounted for in Syria.
Commission members also insisted on keeping the matter strictly humanitarian, urging that it not be politicized. They requested representation in the upcoming Lebanese-Syrian joint committee that will follow up on all unresolved issues between the two nations.
The issue of Lebanese missing in Syria dates back to the civil war era, when hundreds were reportedly abducted or detained by Syrian forces, with many still unaccounted for. The dossier prepared by Lebanese authorities compiles evidence and testimonies to press for answers from Syria and resolve one of Lebanon’s most painful humanitarian files.
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