Lebanese President Michel Aoun has concluded a series of meetings to set a timetable for the return of Syrian refugees to their home country in an organized manner.
Aoun had addressed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the sponsor of Moscow’s initiative on securing the return of displaced Syrians.
However, a source informed about the Russian-Lebanese summit, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the zero hour for the initiative has not yet been determined.
Several political figures criticized the joint statement that was issued following the Putin-Aoun meeting in Moscow last month, for failing to choose the Russian members of the Committee responsible for arranging the repatriation of Syrians, except for the name of Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin.
The source said that the Committee has Russian and Lebanese members, and that several Lebanese ministers would attend its meetings when discussions are set to focus on issues that concern their ministries. For example, the source said Lebanese Interior Minister Rayya Hassan would attend some of the Committee’s sessions when talks tackle security matters.
“The Russian side would be responsible for implementing decisions on securing the safe return of refugees inside Syria,” he said.
The source expects Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to visit Moscow when the structure of the joint Committee is ready.
“What Aoun and Putin agreed on should be revealed when Moscow completes appointing members of the Russian delegation in the Committee,” the source said.
It added that the Lebanese delegation has been formed and it includes adviser Georges Shaaban, representing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Amal Abu Zeid, representing Bassil and head of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, in addition to the minister concerned with the topic on the agenda of the talks.
