REPORT: Bassil meets his Canadian counterpart

Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil held on Monday a joint press conference with his Canadian counterpart Stephane Dion.

Following the meeting, Bassil said that the sole solution of the Syrian crisis is a political one.
Bassil stressed the need to respect diversity of Lebanon and the need to lift the pressure of the refugees off the Lebanese economy.

"We count on the support of Canada," said Bassil, "we focused on the issue of refugees and we insisted on their safe return to their homes."

For his part, Dion said that Canada's presence in the region would be to offer help and support.

"We support Lebanon...and we will do all that we can to aid Lebanon in accommodating the refugees who amount to third of the number of the Lebanese population."

Dion added that his administration planned to bolster bilateral ties with the Middle Eastern country.