Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Pierre Bou Assi declared that Lebanon was not officially informed of the joint statement issued by the United Nations and the European Union, adding that Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil was the only one informed and did not act, but rather used it later against them.
In a press conference, Bou Assi noted that when the Syrian displacement into Lebanon started, the Lebanese Forces party was not part of the government, whereas the Free Patriotic Movement had 10 ministers. “What have you done so that the number of refugees does not reach 1.5 million?” he asked.
“If you wanted to work but they would not let you work, it is better if you shut up and let others work since you cannot do anything; I am the Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs, not the Syrian, and the Lebanese people is my responsibility, as for the Syrian refugees, I have an ethical and humanitarian responsibility toward them and I will preserve the dignity of every human being living in Lebanon,” he said, addressing Bassil.
Bou Assi also reiterated their stance regarding the return of the Syrian refugees without waiting for a political solution, since “no solution is near.”