DUBAI: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday urged the international community to lift sanctions on Syria.
This would revitalize Syria’s economy and create the necessary conditions for the return of displaced Syrians to their home country, he said.
In a meeting with a delegation from the Middle East Institute in Washington, led by retired US Gen. Joseph Votel, Aoun said that Lebanon has reached its limit in hosting the large number of displaced people residing in the country.
He added that the political and security conditions that once justified the presence of displaced people in Lebanon have significantly changed, making their return both possible and essential.
“We are committed to the return of these displaced persons to their country,” Aoun said, adding that many now remain in Lebanon purely as “economic migrants.”
He described the return of refugees as a humanitarian necessity and crucial for Lebanon’s long-term stability.
The Lebanese president said that removing sanctions on Syria would revitalize the country’s economy and create the necessary conditions for Syrian refugees to return.
This would help alleviate the pressures Lebanon faces, both economically and in terms of its strained infrastructure and resources, he said.
Aoun also called on Washington to support Lebanon’s security institutions, particularly the army, which he described as urgently needing assistance to maintain national stability and carry out its responsibilities under UN Resolution 1701.
On the broader issue of Lebanon’s economic recovery, Aoun discussed the reforms being carried out in the country.
Lebanon’s political unity and the consistent implementation of reforms are critical for restoring the country’s economic and financial health, he said.
“We must remain focused on the reform process, as only through internal unity and consistent progress will we be able to gain back the trust of the international community, and attract much-needed support,” Aoun added.
