Lebanese Parliament Speaker Calls for Coordination with Syria Ahead of Brussels Meeting

By Staff, Agencies

With a conference on Syrian refugees set to begin in Brussels Tuesday, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri seized the opportunity to reiterate his call for Lebanon to coordinate with Syria to facilitate refugee returns.

Berri called for the swift return of refugees from Lebanon, while speaking to visitors at his Ain al-Tineh residence. “This return requires coordination with the Syrian government,” he said.

The third Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region is set to begin later in the day and will run through Thursday.

Relatively, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri will head the delegation, which will include the Progressive Socialist Party-affiliated education minister and the Lebanese Forces-affiliated social affairs minister. Hariri’s Future Movement, the PSP and the LF say that normal ties with Syria are not possible until a political solution is reached to end the war. However, Berri’s Amal Movement, Hezbollah and their allies support coordinating with Damascus on the refugee crisis.