Report: Aoun Bound for Tunisia, Bassil Could ‘Visit’ Damascus

Lebanon anticipates the outcome of talks held between President Michel Aoun and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Russian initiative to repatriate Syrian refugees, amid reports on the likelihood of Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil to visit Syria for the same end, Kuwaiti Asseyasah newspaper reported on Friday.

In the few coming hours, Aoun is scheduled to lead Lebanon’s delegation to partake in the 30th Arab League Tunisian summit.

Aoun will deliver a speech addressing various critical issues on the Lebanese and Arab arenas, especially the issue of displaced persons. The Lebanese president will also meet with a number of Arab leaders, added the daily.

On the other hand, quoting unnamed sources, the newspaper said that Bassil is likely to visit Damascus “in response to Russia’s advice and Aoun’s support,” to tackle the refugees file.

According to the sources, Bassil would meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem to discuss the issue of displaced persons and to study ways of repatriating them as part of activating the Russian initiative in that regard.

They also said it is crucial for “PM Saad Hariri to be put in the picture for the best interest of Lebanon, and to distance the file from any politicization.”