Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, addressing the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, has brought to the attention of the international community the escalating influx of Syrian refugees across Lebanon's borders. This influx is posing a threat to stability and exacerbating the ongoing crisis in the country.
"We call upon the United Nations to take a more effective role in addressing the presence of 2 million Syrian refugees within Lebanon," - emphasized the prime minister. - "To date, the international community's response to the repercussions of the Syrian crisis has been hesitant and lacking in clarity." Mikati also underscored the UN's responsibility towards the 500,000 Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon.
Regarding the election of the country's president, a position that has remained vacant since October 31, 2022, Prime Minister Mikati expressed his support for House of Deputies Speaker Nabih Berri's initiative to facilitate a dialogue among parliamentary factions aimed at reaching a consensus on the future president's candidacy. He expressed optimism, saying, "I anticipate the Lebanese parliament will elect the president of the republic in the near future."
It's worth noting that on June 14, Lebanon's parliament conducted its 12th unsuccessful vote to elect the country's president, as none of the presidential candidates managed to secure the required support of 65 out of 128 lawmakers. On August 31, the parliament speaker emphasized the necessity for Lebanese politicians to engage in open dialogue to reach a consensus before proceeding with another presidential vote, given the state institutions' paralysis.
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Photo: Xevi V/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS