Ibrahim: Formation efforts ongoing despite what's being said
General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim announced Tuesday that “despite everything that is being said, the efforts are still ongoing in an attempt to form the government.”
Ibrahim has been mediating between the parties, mainly PM-designate Najib Mikati and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil, for several weeks now.
Separately, Ibrahim said that the repatriation of Syrian refugees is a “national and nationalistic duty,” noting that “the Syrian side has shown nothing but utter welcoming and transparency in dealing with the file.”
He also said that “humanitarian organizations and others that claim to be humanitarian are trying to impose their will” on Lebanon in the issue.
“We will not bow to pressures, because the interest of the Lebanese people comes first. We won’t force any refugee to return but we are seeking to alleviate the pressure on Lebanon,” Ibrahim added.
Noting that there are currently 2,080,000 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Ibrahim said that nearly 540,000 have voluntarily returned to their country since Lebanon launched a repatriation plan in 2017.
Source: Naharnet
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