Mansour: To Control, Not Close Borders with Syria

Local Editor

Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour clarified Friday that he never called for closing the borders with Syria but to control them.

In an interview with as-Safir Lebanese daily, Mansour stated: "The movement of the displaced Syrians and Palestinians must be controlled and not prevented."

"We must know who is coming, and for what purposes and reasons similar to measures taken in Jordan, Turkey and Iraq," the minister confirmed, and noted that "Lebanon can't tolerate large numbers, that may turn to a fait accompli future."

In parallel, Mansour pointed out that the ratio of the number of Palestinians living in Lebanon are 12 % and now Lebanon has a 4% increased due to displaced Syrians away from the Palestinians.
"Can Lebanon's population tolerate an increase of 16% , i.e. expected to increase rapidly?" he wondered.
Meanwhile, the FM sid that "Lebanon has become the only outlet for the displaced, and our abilities are limited."
"The displaced need all the health, nutrition, and educational services, especially as the international bodies do not meet their obligations and commitments," he stressed.

In this context, Mansour explained that "since 1948, they did not provide for the Palestinians but crumbs, so that's why we called for controlling the borders."


Source: as-Safir daily, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org