Salam Suggests Refugee Zones inside Syria, Arab Fund
Prime Minister Tammam Salam took part in the 27th Arab Summit in Mauritania on Monday and proposed the creation of safe refugee zones inside war-torn Syria in order to alleviate the burden on the neighboring countries that are hosting displaced Syrians.
“Our summit convenes amid crises and wars that are gripping several Arab countries and posing dangerous threats to Arab national security, with the most dangerous crisis being the Syrian plight, whose flames have lashed Lebanon and subjected it to enormous strains,” Salam told the summit.
“There are around 1.5 million Syrian refugees in a country that has limited resources, a country that war has closed its borders and severed its trade routes with the Arab countries... We are a small country that is performing its brotherly duty without bragging about it. We are receiving international aid that is still insufficient compared to the needs of the refugees and the host communities,” the PM added.
“In the face of this situation, we turn to our Arab brothers and they are the ones who should hear our pleadings,” he said.
Accordingly, the prime minister suggested the creation of an “Arab commission that would push forward the idea of establishing residency zones for the refugees inside Syrian territory” and that would “convince the international community” of such a proposal.
“Catering to the needs of the Syrians on their soil is less costly for the neighboring countries and the international donors and it would be the best way to put an end to the crime of the dispersion of the Syrian people,” Salam explained.
“Until we can achieve that, we call for setting up an Arab fund aimed at boosting the host nations' capacity and at improving the refugees' living conditions,” the premier added.
Stressing that the presence of the refugees in Lebanon is “temporary,” Salam reiterated that the Syrians will not be naturalized in Lebanon.
“We are looking forward to the day when peace prevails, so that the displaced can return home,” he added.
Lebanon hosts more than one million Syrian refugees -- roughly a quarter of its population -- and has regularly been praised for opening its borders to those fleeing the brutal conflict in its neighbor.
But the refugee influx has strained resources and tempers, with some Lebanese viewing the years-long presence of Syrians as a burden, even an imposition.
Separately, Salam called on the Arab nations to go on the offensive against the “beast” of terrorism and to “utilize all security, political and ideological assets to fight it, in order to protect our security and the future of our sons, and defend our reputation in the world.”
The prime minister also stressed that Lebanon is “keen on the higher Arab interest” and on “solidarity with our Arab brothers in all their just causes,” referring to the latest spat between Lebanon and the Gulf countries over Hizbullah's policies and rhetoric.
“We are not neutral regarding anything that harms the national security of our brothers, especially the Gulf Cooperation Council nations, and we reject any interference in the affairs of the Arab countries under any slogan,” Salam stressed.
Saudi Arabia had led the Arab League, the GCC and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in labeling Hizbullah “terrorist” over alleged illegal activities in some Gulf states and Yemen.
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