Finland's President Vows Support for Lebanon to Confront Burden of Refugees
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Visiting Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Thursday that his country was keen on supporting Lebanon to confront the crisis of the Syrian refugees.
“No state has ever confronted what Lebanon is facing,” Niinisto said during a joint conference with his Lebanese counterpart at Baabda Palace.
“We want to provide the biggest possible support to Lebanon” in that regard, he said.
“Everyone should work on supporting Lebanon,” he added.
During the second International Support Group for Lebanon meeting held in Paris on March 5, Finland made a $3 million contribution to the Lebanese economy through a World Bank trust fund.
France contributed some $10 million and Norway $4.8 million.
Suleiman said during the joint press conference that he discussed with his Finnish counterpart the results of the Paris meeting, which appealed for nations to extend pledges of financial help for Lebanon.
The country is coping with an influx of Syrian refugees, terror attacks and a struggling economy.
“I thanked President Sauli Niinisto on Finland's support for Lebanon and its participation in UNIFIL,” said Suleiman, a day after they visited UNIFIL's Finnish contingent in the South.
“We stressed the importance of trade ties … and the exchange of expertise in several fields,” he told reporters.
Suleiman also said that he agreed with his Finnish counterpart on the importance of resolving the Syrian conflict through dialogue away from foreign interference.
“We hope that peace would return to Syria as soon as possible,” said Niinisto.
Suleiman later threw a lunch banquet in honor of the visiting president.
Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Tammam Salam, who held a short meeting at the presidential palace, were among the top Lebanese officials, who attended the lunch.
13 March 2014, 15:41
00
These Zionist pricks are responsible for what is happening in the Middle East..collectively they have donated Approx $20mil...this wont even by you a third of a fighter jet. This money will go straight into the pockets of the thief His Excellency Sulieman...May God have Mercy on his Soul!
13 March 2014, 16:41
32
@Speakfreely ... i have to agree with FT for once.
Behind all the "humanitarian" aspects of the west, they are all interested in fuelling conflicts because it's the best way to drive away taxpayer money towards the very few companies that generate billions for war, weapons trade and more. It also increases government spending which is always good for an economy.
For every million they give us in humanitarian aid, they make tens of millions...
They are responsible for letting dictators like Assad "be" because it serves their purpose. They are responsible for letting Iran "be" because a threat to Israel justifies billions in aid to a stollen country which deserves nothing.
13 March 2014, 16:57
66
The best way forward is to avoid a parallel of the Palestinian refugee issue taking place again, where the Arabs and the international community dumped the problem on us, gave some donations which in any case rarely reached state coffers but the political crooked class. What should be done is not that complicated, let the Arabs shoulder their own quota of refugees, according to their territorial size and capital income. Since Iran is always so keep to meddle in Arab affairs, then Iran should be included into the equation, I believe that will leave us Lebanese to shoulder about 150,000 Syrian refugees and about 70,000 Palestinians. This is what the Arabs and Persians don't want to hear, they know, but we Lebanese possibly aren't aware either.
13 March 2014, 17:37
57
Flame catcher... I agree with every word except your last paragraph. Removing Bashar from power will only turn Syria into the new Afghanistan and Lebanon into current day Iraq. Eliminate the source of terror and extremism and all foreign influence and let the syrians decide their fate on their own. Russian, iranian, Saudi, Qatari, turkish, British, american, french, Jordanian, arab and Lebanese.
13 March 2014, 17:41
93
the syrian revolution started because Assad and his father never allowed the Syrians to decide their fate on their own. Lest you forget the 99.99% election results for the last 40 years!
