The head of the General Confederation of Lebanese Trade Unions, Maroun El-Khouli, indicated, during his meeting with the Maronite Patriarch Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rai, that “we presented to Al-Rai the goals and activities of the national campaign to liberate Lebanon from the Syrian demographic occupation, and its success in bringing the file of the displaced Syrians back to the fore after the obliteration operation.” For its shocking numbers since 2015, which constitute a dangerous demographic occupation.
He pointed out that “this conspiracy continues today, as evidenced by the refusal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to give the data to the Lebanese government, in a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty, and in a practice that deviates from the diplomatic norms approved in all the world and in a scandalous irony for a country that receives an office of the UNHCR at a time outside any time.” within the framework of an international agreement on refugees, including the 1951 agreement, which essentially obliges him to cooperate with it.”
He stated that “we talked about three main emergency stations that will help Lebanon with the file of the return of the displaced Syrians. The first is the Arab summit and the need to include an Arab plan for the return of the displaced Syrians. The second station is the meeting of the shepherd with French President Emmanuel Macron, so that the file of the displaced Syrians will be a priority in their talks, especially since France has a weighty influence.” In the European Union, which we hope the Union will recalibrate its policy towards the displaced Syrians in Lebanon, and not be limited to focusing European support on meeting their needs without taking into account the negative effects on the host country, which is facing enormous challenges as a result of the Syrian displacement, a country with limited resources and a fragile demographic. “.
As for the third station, he explained that it was about “the visit of the caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, to Syria, and the direct agreement with the Syrian government about scheduling the return of the displaced Syrians and the guarantees required for a safe return. We also talked about the issue of confronting this Syrian resettlement by demanding the enactment of laws that are consistent with the provisions of the Lebanese constitution on the one hand. Rejecting resettlement, by enacting laws that prevent the displaced Syrians from the right to own real estate, the right to establish associations, form unions, own the media, or the right to demonstrate and peaceful sit-ins, to express opinions on social, political, cultural, professional and economic issues, and work to amend articles in the Labor Law that prevent the displaced Syrians From practicing certain professions and adding special conditions for obtaining a work permit and amending fees, financial fines and penalties for employers who do not meet the legal requirements for Syrians, in line with the provisions of the Lebanese constitution in terms of refusing resettlement.
