Sharafeddine optimistic on repatriation of Syrian refugees

Caretaker Minister of the Displaced Issam Sharafeddine has expressed optimism on the possibility of launching practical steps for the repatriation of Syrian refugees to their country, following a visit that he made to Damascus in the weekend at the request of caretaker PM Najib Mikati.

The issue is expected to be discussed by the caretaker Cabinet next week, after Mikati returns from Hajj and gets briefed by Sharafeddine on the visit’s outcome.

In remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper published Tuesday, Sharafeddine described his visit to Damascus as “positive and successful,” noting that “the next step will be communication by caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib with the Syrian state in order to form a Lebanese delegation and visit Damascus to continue discussing this case.”

Sharafeddine also said that there is “trust between the two parties” and “readiness to begin receiving large numbers of refugees that might reach 180,000 in the first stage.”