Aoun Hinges on Putin’s Role in Return of Syrian Refugees

Lebanese President Michel Aoun meets Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Tuesday March 26, 2019, in Moscow (NNA)
Lebanese President Michel Aoun meets Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Tuesday March 26, 2019, in Moscow (NNA)
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Aoun Hinges on Putin’s Role in Return of Syrian Refugees

Lebanese President Michel Aoun meets Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Tuesday March 26, 2019, in Moscow (NNA)
Lebanese President Michel Aoun meets Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Tuesday March 26, 2019, in Moscow (NNA)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun asked Russia on Tuesday for assistance in facilitating the return of Syrian refugees.

"We maintain relations with the leadership of your country and with all representatives of political parties," Russian President Vladimir Putin told Aoun in Moscow, noting that this year marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, officials from the Lebanese presidency described Aoun’s two-day visit to Moscow as “excellent,” saying there was Russian consensus on supporting Lebanon and its regional role and stability.

The two leaders agreed to further strengthen and develop friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries, including measures to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees, a Kremlin statement said.

They expressed support to the process of political settlement in Syria and fight against terrorism in the war-torn country.

They also reiterated the importance of Russia's initiative in securing the return of refugees, including those displaced internally.

“Resolving this problem depends directly on ... improving Syria's social and economic conditions, through post-conflict reconstruction,” the Kremlin statement said.

Lebanon has taken in over 1 million refugees from Syria.

Aoun said Lebanon faces an economic fall-out from the Syrian crisis and expressed hope that Putin would help his country repatriate the Syrians.

The Lebanese President discussed the issue on Monday with Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of Russian Parliament.

"It is in the interest of Europe to resolve the Syrian refugee crisis because the dire economic situation in Lebanon will eventually lead refugees to seek other alternatives, and European countries will be their first destination,” Aoun said.



Jerusalem Patriarch Hails Pope’s Commitment to Gaza

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a press conference at the Latin Catholic patriarchate at the Old City of Jerusalem, 22 April 2025. (EPA)
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a press conference at the Latin Catholic patriarchate at the Old City of Jerusalem, 22 April 2025. (EPA)
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Jerusalem Patriarch Hails Pope’s Commitment to Gaza

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a press conference at the Latin Catholic patriarchate at the Old City of Jerusalem, 22 April 2025. (EPA)
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a press conference at the Latin Catholic patriarchate at the Old City of Jerusalem, 22 April 2025. (EPA)

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on Tuesday hailed Pope Francis's support for Gazans and engagement with the small Catholic community in the war-battered Palestinian territory.

The Catholic church's highest authority in the region, who is considered a potential successor to the late pontiff, Pizzaballa told journalists in Jerusalem that "Gaza represents, a little bit, all what was the heart of his pontificate".

Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, advocated peace and "closeness to the poor... and to the neglected one", said the patriarch.

These positions became particularly evident in Francis's response to the Israel-Hamas war which broke out in October 2023, Pizzaballa said.

"He was very close to the community of Gaza, the parish of Gaza, he kept calling them many times -- for a certain period, also every day, every evening at 7 pm," said the patriarch.

He added that by doing so, the pope "became for the community something stable, and also comforting for them, and he knew this".

Out of the Gaza Strip's 2.4 million people, about 1,000 are Christians. Most of them are Orthodox, but according to the Latin Patriarchate, there are about 135 Catholics in the territory.

Since the early days of the war, members of the Catholic community have been sheltering at Holy Family Church compound in Gaza City, and some Orthodox Christians have also found refuge there.

Pope Francis repeatedly called for an end to the war. The day before his death, in a final Easter message delivered on Sunday, he condemned the "deplorable humanitarian situation" in the besieged territory.

"Work for justice... but without becoming part of the conflict," said Pizzaballa of the late pontiff's actions.

"For us, for the Church, it leaves an important legacy."

The patriarch thanked the numerous Palestinian and Israeli public figures who have offered their condolences, preferring not to comment on the lack of any official message from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Even as "the local authorities... were not always happy" with the pope's positions or statements, they were "always very respectful", he said.

Pizzaballa said he will travel to Rome on Wednesday, after leading a requiem mass for the pope at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem in the morning.

As one of the 135 cardinal electors, the Latin patriarch will participate in the conclave to elect a new pope.

Pizzaballa, a 60-year-old Italian Franciscan who also speaks English and Hebrew, arrived in Jerusalem in 1990 and was made a cardinal in September 2023, just before the Gaza war began.

His visits to Gaza and appeals for peace since then have attracted international attention.