Syria tied on Monday the return of refugees back to their home to the provision of international aid.
Sources in Damascus told Asharq Al-Awsat that Syria is trying to exploit the refugee file by saying that their return to the devastated areas is being hindered by the “lack of a suitable environment” and “difficulty in providing them with the necessary services.”
Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Faysal Mikdad received on Monday his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib on his first visit to Damascus.
The FM has been tasked by the caretaker government to handle the refugee file. Lebanon is hosting over a million Syrian refugees.
The FM was accompanied on his trip by acting Director of General Security Elias Baissari and Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council at the Defense Ministry General Mohammed Mustafa.
In a joint statement following their meeting, the officials said they agreed to coordinate meetings to address important issues, including the safe return of refugees, border control and the exchange of fugitives.
They highlighted the significance of cooperation to ensure the dignified return of displaced Syrians to their home country. The international community, the United Nations, and its agencies are urged to fulfill their responsibilities in facilitating this goal, the statement added.
The ministers underscored the importance of continued consultation to address pressing common challenges.
Mikdad briefed his guest on the measures taken by the Syrian government in recent years to restore security and stability and to facilitate the return of refugees.
Informed sources in the Syrian capital told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Damascus is trying to exploit the refugee file to exert pressure on some Arab countries that have initiated diplomatic contacts with Syria.”
“It wants to pressure them to mediate with the American administration to ease the economic sanctions on Damascus, and therefore, allow foreign and Arab companies to contribute to the reconstruction process.”
The sources revealed that the Lebanese FM was expected to visit Damascus in July when Arab countries were restoring relations with the regime.
The possibility of the war in Gaza expanding to the region will put the refugee file on the backburner. Damascus will try to exploit this to widen its room for political maneuvers with Arab countries, added the sources.
The FMs strongly condemned the Israeli war on Gaza and the Palestinian people, demanding a cessation of hostilities.
They underscored the need for the immediate and unconditional delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the unequivocal rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people or undermine their just cause.
Additionally, the FMs stressed the importance of implementing relevant international resolutions and ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Syrian territories, including the Golan Heights. They expressed support for the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
