Aoun Meets Bulgarian Counterpart: Difficult Conditions Could Drive Refugees to Europe
President Michel Aoun received at Baabda Palace on Tuesday the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev who arrived in Beirut early today on a two-day official visit.
The two held a joint press conference during which Aoun highlighted the strained economic conditions in Lebanon as it hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees.
“We are concerned if the situation gets more difficult, Palestinian and Syrian refugees could move Europe. Economic conditions are very difficult in Lebanon,” said Aoun.
“Confronting the burdens of the displaced Syrians is a common international responsibility. We must work swiftly to end the suffering of the displaced and secure their safe return to their country,” he added.
On Israel’s violations of Lebanon’s land and maritime territories, the President urged Bulgaria to support Lebanon’s stance against “Israel’s continuous breaches, and to assert Lebanon’s right to extract its gas and oil within its territories.”
The President reiterated Lebanon’s denunciation of the US decision recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights “it is a flagrant violation of the international community. Not only does it threatens the sovereignty of a sister state but also threatens the sovereignty of the Lebanese state.”
Radev is set to meet later with Speaker Nabih Berri, PM Saad Hariri where talks will focus on the Lebanese-Bulgarian relations and the means to develop them in addition to the situation in the region, said NNA.
The plane of the Bulgarian President, his wife and the accompanying delegation, landed at the Rafik Hariri International Airport at 9:30 am.
He was received by Minister of the Displaced Ghassan Atallah, the Governor of Mount Lebanon Mohammed Makkawi, and several other officials.
Source: Naharnet
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