Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib arrived in Damascus on the morning of Monday, October 23, for talks with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, concerning the issue of around two million war-displaced Syrians in Lebanon and ways to facilitate their repatriation.
On the eve of his trip, Bou Habib told Al-Joumhouria local newspaper that he would be discussing with Mekdad the outcome of his contacts and visits to the United Nations and Western countries regarding the Syrian refugees’ file and the Lebanese approach to the matter. He added that he would be subsequently listening to the Syrian authorities’ stance on the subject.
Diplomatic sources told the same newspaper that these discussions would focus on ways to facilitate programs for the return of Syrian refugees to their country in coordination with the Syrian authorities.
It is yet to be known whether the Syrian authorities will arrange a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, if deemed necessary.
Bou Habib is accompanied on his trip by the Acting Director of General Security Elias Baissari and the Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council, General Mohammed Mustafa, in addition to a team of diplomatic and legal advisers.
