Finland's President Vows Support for Lebanon to Confront Burden of Refugees
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.
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