EU parliament votes against refugee repatriatriation amid Lebanese objections
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution supporting the continued presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
"Conditions are not met for the voluntary, dignified return of refugees in conflict-prone areas in Syria," the European Parliament's resolution text said.
The resolution recalled the vulnerability of the refugee population in Lebanon and stressed the need to provide adequate, predictable and multi-layered funding to agencies working with refugees.
Minister of the displaced Issam Sahrafeddine said Thursday that the European Parliament decision is "arbitrary and unacceptable."
"It is a blatant interference in our national affairs," he added.
MP Faisal Karameh also criticized the decision of the European Parliament. "It has no legal value and violates international law as it intervenes in sovereign affairs," the lawmaker said.
Many politicians, including Amal MP Qassem Hashem, Democratic Gathering bloc MP Bilal Abdallah, Free Patriotic Movement MP Simon Abi Ramia and former MP Amal Abou Zeid, condemned the decision.
"Lebanon can no longer bear the refugee burden," the Lebanese Forces also said Thursday in a statement, as it called on the international community to help Lebanon to repatriate refugees or transfer them to other European or Arab countries that would accept to grant them permanent residence and a decent life.
Source: Naharnet
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