By Niamh Fleming-Farrell
BEIRUT: Germany’s Commissioner for Human
Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid Markus Loning emphasized Thursday his
country’s commitment to supporting Lebanon in coping with the influx of Syrian
refugees.
He also emphasized Germany’s interest in
ensuring Lebanon remains as stable as possible in the face worsening conflict
in Syria. Speaking to journalists Thursday evening, Loning described his
meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati as “very constructive,” and assured
that “the Lebanese government can count on [German] support as the situation is
now and if it gets worse.”
There are currently some 34,000 Syrian
refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in
Lebanon, but thousands more have entered the country.
Loning commended Lebanon on the efforts made
to shelter the refugees, saying that Europeans should be aware of the “great
hospitality” afforded those fleeing violence in Syria.
The German representative also met with Future
Movement head and former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Speaker Nabih Berri’s
adviser Ali Hamdan and the UNHCR.
Loning described his visit as an
information-gathering exercise. It immediately follows a trip of the same
nature to Jordan.
Pressed on what format German assistance to
Lebanon would take, Loning said, “no specific plans were discussed” but that
“the main support we are giving right now is financial.”
He added that Berlin has just decided to
allocate an extra 1 million euros ($1.22 million) to Lebanon’s Syrian refugee
relief efforts.
Loning also said the German contribution to
Syrian refugee relief in both Lebanon and Jordan to date totals 11 million
euros.
Expressing his faith in the Lebanese
government, Loning also emphasized that while he shared his experiences of
Amman’s approach to the issue, the Lebanese government “knows best” how to
address the matter.
One significant difference between the
neighboring countries’ approaches is Jordan’s opening of a refugee camp for
Syrians on the outskirts of the border city Mafraq.
Questioned as to whether establishing a
similar camp on Lebanese soil was a topic in his meetings, Loning replied: “We
discussed all issues, and that was one of the issues.”
He refused to be drawn on
the recent deportation of 14 Syrians to Damascus by Lebanon’s General Security.
The commissioner did, however, highlight that Germany is “not extraditing
anyone to Syria at the moment.”http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Aug-03/183226-germany-commits-to-helping-syrian-refugees.ashx#axzz22OD0d0aY
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