BASSIL From Germany: Lebanon Committed to Resolution 1701

18 Sep 2019

Germany - "We have felt the desire of more than 80% of the displaced Syrians to return [to their country], and the conditions are now right. We ask Germany to help us push in this direction," said Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil in a joint press conference with his German counterpart Haikou Mas.

"Lebanon is committed to Resolution 1701 and has not attacked Israel. The latter was the aggressor, as per usual," he stressed.

"We have previously refused to naturalize Palestinians, and we now refuse to naturalize Syrians," Bassil assured.

He continued: "We are keen on the safe return of displaced people. (...) In the past year, more than two hundred thousand Syrians have been repatriated from Lebanon because the conditions have become suitable."

The Foreign Minister stressed in this context that "the recent action taken by the army, which came by a decision of the Higher Defense Council of Lebanon, is the result of illegal gatherings of displaced persons for the purpose of building illegal housing units."

The Lebanese Foreign Minister underlined "the close ties with Germany, which Lebanon hopes to strengthen because Germany is an engine member of the European Union and the Security Council. It has stood by Lebanon in international forums and established the naval forces of the UNIFIL."

"We are committed to the resolutions of international legitimacy, and are interested in the continued stability and tranquility in the South. We hope that, given your ties with Israel, you could pressure it to stop its provocations and aggressions."

He pointed out that "the most prominent challenge is terrorism and the wars that ensued. Lebanon and Germany bear the displacement crisis."

"In Lebanon, there are 200 displaced people per square kilometer, which threatens the mere existence of Lebanon and constitutes economic, security, social, health and educational pressures," he lamented.

The two ministers held talks about the political and security situation in Lebanon and the region. The German focus was on monitoring developments in Israel after the elections.