Syria Ambassador Stresses Coordination with Lebanon on Refugees’ Return

Syrian ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali stressed on Thursday that coordination between Lebanon and Syria on the file of refugees falls in the interest of both countries.

"The return of Syrian refugees is expected to grow in the coming period and the close coordination between Lebanese and Syrian authorities is a necessary,” Ali said in televised remarks he made to reporters after meeting the central committee for the return of refugees in the Free Patriotic Movement.

“Syria today is safe and needs the return of its children. Syria has been able to eradicate terrorism from the majority of its territory,” he said.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri previously announced that Lebanon will not coordinate directly with the Syrian government on the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. He largely blames Syria for the assassination of his father, ex-PM Rafik Hariri, back in 2005.

Lebanon is hosting more than a million refugees. Hundreds of thousands of others are scattered across Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and beyond.