Report: Derbas Says Syrians are Welcome But Won't be Resettled

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas emphasized that although Lebanon welcomes the displaced Syrians on its territory but the country will not resettle them, al-Joumhouria daily said on Thursday.

“The Syrians are our brothers and they are welcome, but the idea of resettlement, lending, renting or selling them parts of land, or selling them passports is out of the question,” stressed Derbas in an interview to the daily.

Derbas' comments came as he prepares to accompany Prime Minister Tammam Salam, who will be heading a delegation Sunday, to attend the Arab leaders summit in Mauritania.

The Minister went on to say that at the summit “we will lead a number of proposals including one that the Arab summit adopts a suggestion to establish safe zones inside Syria for the (displaced) Syrians.”

“Perhaps we will propose the establishment of an Arab fund to care for the Arab asylum and support Lebanon which hosts as much as half the number of its own population of the Arab people.”

The Arab summit will be held on July 26 and 27 in the capital Nouakchott where Salam is expected to deliver a speech.

Salam will travel on Sunday on head of a delegation comprised of Ministers of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil, Foreign Jebran Bassil, Health Wael Abou Faour and Derbas.