Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib met with the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ivo Freijsen, to discuss the issue of the Syrian migrant presence in Lebanon.
Following the meeting, Bou Habib outlined the terms stated, highlighting his wishes for the UNHCR to stop its interference with “Lebanon's sovereign authorities and for individuals and international organizations operating in Lebanon to "adhere to Lebanese laws."
He also called on the UN body to not “bypass the legal authority” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “which serves as the mandatory channel for all UNHCR communications according to agreements, treaties, and diplomatic conventions.”
Bou Habib demanded in his meeting that:
Bou Habib emphasized that Lebanon respects the spirit of the 1951 Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees, even though Lebanon is not a signatory to this convention, and that it reaffirms its commitment to the principles and purposes of the United Nations as a founding member of this organization.
That being said, “in the event of non-compliance with the above and continued overstepping of boundaries, the ministry will be compelled to reconsider its dealings with the UNHCR, similar to measures taken by other countries in response to similar transgressions by the UNHCR,” Bou Habib concluded.
Following the meeting, Bou Habib outlined the terms stated, highlighting his wishes for the UNHCR to stop its interference with “Lebanon's sovereign authorities and for individuals and international organizations operating in Lebanon to "adhere to Lebanese laws."
He also called on the UN body to not “bypass the legal authority” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “which serves as the mandatory channel for all UNHCR communications according to agreements, treaties, and diplomatic conventions.”
Bou Habib demanded in his meeting that:
- The letter the UNHCR addressed to the Minister of Interior, Bassam Mawlawi, demanding the end of “inhuman practices against Syrians”, be withdrawn and considered “null and void.”
- The UNHCR adheres to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the General Directorate of General Security in 2003, which stipulates that the UNHCR undertakes to “relocate asylum seekers to a third country other than Lebanon within six months, exceptionally renewable once.”
- The entity delivers the refugee data, no later than the end of the current month, to the General Directorate of General Security, per the Memorandum of Understanding signed on August 8, 2023, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.
Bou Habib emphasized that Lebanon respects the spirit of the 1951 Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees, even though Lebanon is not a signatory to this convention, and that it reaffirms its commitment to the principles and purposes of the United Nations as a founding member of this organization.
That being said, “in the event of non-compliance with the above and continued overstepping of boundaries, the ministry will be compelled to reconsider its dealings with the UNHCR, similar to measures taken by other countries in response to similar transgressions by the UNHCR,” Bou Habib concluded.
This Is Beirut
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