Caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Wednesday agreed with his Syrian counterpart Faisal al-Mikdawi to meet to discuss the Syrian refugee situation, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
Bou Habib will head a delegation that will focus on the Syrian refugee situation in Lebanon. During a phone call, al-Mikdawi welcomed his visit and "expressed his will to cooperate for the interests of the two countries."
Bou Habib explained the goals of his visit to the the Foreign Affairs and displaced committee on Wednesday, according to the NNA. However no details have been published about what these goals are.
Repatriation of Syrian migrants
The Lebanese government has made calls for the repatriation of Syrian migrants. Several ministers recently visited Damascus to discuss the issue. However human rights organizations and donor countries have warned about this repatriation, arguing security risks from the Syrian regime.
According to official estimates, Lebanon is host to two million Syrian migrants, of whom some 830,000 are registered refugees with the UN.
Syria's Foreign Minister, Faisal al-Mikdawi said during a phone conversation with his Lebanese counterpart that "Syria is ready to welcome the refugees and facilitate their return", according to a official statement. "What is hindering their repatriation are the consequences of the occupation of Syrian regions by the United States and Turkey, as well as the implementation of illegal economic measures imposed by hostile Western countries," he added.
