Aoun: Russian Initiative to Return Thousands of Refugees to Syria

President Michel Aoun said on Friday that Lebanon hopes the Russian initiative

meets the United Nations’ support, in order to “end the suffering” of Syrian refugees.

“We hope the Russian initiative to return displaced Syrians to their country gets the backing of the United Nations in order to end their suffering,” Aoun told visiting Acting UN special Coordinator for Lebanon Bernell Cardel.

“Lebanon has welcomed the initiative because it ensures the return of around 890,000 displaced Syrians back to Syria. A committee will be formed to coordinate, with the Russians, the technical details related to the return mechanism,” he added.

On Thursday, Aoun presided over a meeting at Baabda Palace that tackled the Russian proposals aimed at securing the return of displaced Syrians to their country.

The meeting was held in the presence of Speaker Nabih Berri, Premier-designate Saad Hariri and a Russian delegation led by special presidential envoy Alexander Lavrentiev.

After the talks, Lavrentiev said he held "very interesting and very positive talks" with the three leaders.

Russia, Syria’s ally has put forward plans to the United States to cooperate for the safe return of refugees to Syria.

Moscow has proposed the establishment of working groups in Lebanon and Jordan, to where many refugees have fled, a Russian defense ministry official said last week.