Bassil Denies Calling for Border Closure, Proposes Admission Ceiling for Refugees
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil denied on Saturday that the Free Patriotic Movement has called for the closure of the border with Syria, saying the government should put an admission ceiling for refugees crossing to Lebanon.
During a press conference he held at his residence in his hometown of Batroun, Bassil said he urged the cabinet on Thursday to control the influx of refugees and limit the burden on the Lebanese state. “We never said we wanted to expel them.”
But he lamented that he was accused of being racist and confessional, and of seeking parliamentary victories.
“Racism is between red and yellow, white and black but not between two peoples from the same color and confessions,” Bassil stressed.
“How could we be sectarian when the Syrian refugees are Christians and Muslims? How could we be racist when we have common things with the Syrian people?,” he wondered.
Bassil also snapped back at his critics, saying his proposal to put an admission ceiling aimed at meeting the needs of the refugees, was in no way linked to the upcoming parliamentary elections.
He accused the government of “encouraging more Syrians to come to Lebanon” by focusing on the humanitarian aspect of the flow of refugees rather than controlling their numbers.
He hinted that some Syrians were crossing to Lebanon although the areas they are living in are not witnessing turmoil.
“We should learn from our past experiences with the Palestinians though they came to Lebanon in other circumstances,” the minister said.
Bassil proposed “asking other states to take some of the refugees rather than preaching us” how to deal with the refugees.
“We should make sure that the crisis would not worsen and their numbers would decline and not increase,” he said.
over 11 years
Most og the the Lebanese polticins and religious figures ought to speak less and act more.
over 11 years
Bassil should do his job, not other MPs jobs.
over 11 years
He accused the government of “encouraging more Syrians to come to Lebanon”
and the M8 circus still goes on!!! still criticizing a gvt he is part of!!! lol what a fun it is to see this gvt at work! all criticizing the ministries of the others!!! thus criticizing themselves! what a unity! what an efficiency! ROTFLMGO!!!
really what an entertaining movie they are shooting!!!!
over 11 years
irrelevant as usual FT... a gvt must show unity otherwise it just makes fun of itself like your beloved M8 is doing...one sided gvt as they call themselves! lol! it is a gvt not a political party speaking or political group!
when there is an opposition all can freely speak their mind!
but M8 is just showing its inefficiency to govern as usual...
over 11 years
the1phoenix
this not about putting a ceiling or not, this is about the next phase being prepared now:
- do you recall the rumors spread by fpm before samaha was caught? well now they are doing the same.
- it has been uncovered that a group was sent by asad to the north in the Christian area (where qawmiyeh are) preparing plots against us and the aim is to put the blame on salafis.
- at the same time, hizbushaitan has been arming and training groups in the north specifically and in kesroun in preparation for what is coming.
- end result: when the issues start, they will accuse salafis of aggression against Christians so that fpm comes out reinforced for the upcoming elections.
if that fails, hizbushaitan is prepared to try to take over the country militarily, and this is what Joumblat is saying these days.
over 11 years
@the1phoenix
as you can notice I am no more replying t aggressive comments and insults as agreed previously.
@peace
thank you for clarifying this to FT, although he knows exactly what I am talking about, and I prefer not to go through any war of words with Ft and his likes as it is not productive.
to FT
my comment is based on actual facts, and if you recall the period preceding the uncovering of the samaha plot, FPM leaders were spreading the salafis rumors already, as they are now, while it is a well known fact that the Syrian regime has sent his shabiha to do what I said above.
as to hizbushaitan arming salafis factions in the north and fpm and training them, it is a known fact, to the point that if you ask a kid in kesrwan he will confirm it to you. so do not believe me, come and check for yourself :)
over 11 years
Hizbustan taking over the country militarily is the end of hizbustan. In the bigger picture of the region hizbustan is not as big as it is in small lebanon and can not take on so many enemies. Most likely they will readjust, scale back and adapt. What u r suggesting is suicide
over 11 years
@realist
you and I know that it would be suicidal for the shia in Lebanon to do that.
but go explain to the hard core Iranians that :)
unfortunately, hizbushaitan takes its orders from iran :(
over 11 years
wishful thinking hahaha! Theory of conspiracy I love it! yeuh yeuh yeuhhhhhh
over 11 years
I dont think bassil is very bright. But he is absolutely right. The sunnites are happy to receive yet more sunnite refugees. The chiites are afraid to appear racist in preparation for the post assad time. The christians are divided in 2: first part of christians are sunnite employees like geagea. They got instructions to stay silent. The second part is the FPM. And they are the only people talking for the good of Lebanon.
The FPM had a catastrophic performance in government raising salaries in the private sector without study and hence getting us in the mess we are in now. But they are 100% right in their stance today.
The problem is that most single neurone lebanese cannot see shades of grey. They are either for or against a party, and cannot appreciate the wisdom behind the stance of FPM.
over 11 years
Roar. Bassil is not so intelligent. Don't expect so much precision from his positions. Grosso modo, FPM are the only ones that have balls to say what needs to be done, inspite of their lack of experience, lack of statemanship, and their amateurism, they are right. that is the point.
over 11 years
Fully agreed roar! People like you are needed in our country! Bravo!
Now to Lebanon first, please give us a break we are having adult serious talks here. You prefer your stripping marionette who does not even know what politics mean,yet he is considered a leader? A cheap stipper that's all he can be
over 11 years
Racism is also between different religions so bassil is wrong there. Had those refugees been christian bassil would welcome them with arms wide open. Why dont we just say things as they are, this is an artificiAl country full of hate and does not deserve to survive.
over 11 years
realist, you are DEAD wrong. Christian and moslem lebanese are not in hate. Moslems appreciate christian openness and christians appreciate moslems traditional attitudes. Our problem is that christian lebanese got complexed with palestinians who came in as guests and started wanting jounieh to go to their country. Christian lebanese are scared, with 1Billion sunni around them, they want to preserve their identity. Sunnites dont have this risk, hence wouldnt care about christian refugees. You are probably living in some suburb of some industrialized city and dont see the shades of gray...
over 11 years
the roar you are my idol! Now we are in business. Would love to hear back from our friends on the same :)
over 11 years
Basil wants to bare the sole responsibility of how many people live or die. It'll be only on his consciencia and his only.
over 11 years
Agree, we did not have ceiling or rules in 1948 when Palestinian refugees swarmed in and we are still paying the price. Nothing wrong with finding them safe passage to other Arab countries as well (we can not bear the whole brunt).
over 11 years
There's no such thing as pure Lebanese.
It's fun to see him try to take his foot out of his mouth...