Berri Rejects Concerns over Naturalization of Refugees, Implies it is Linked to Presidential Race

Speaker Nabih Berri rejected claims that there are plans to naturalize refugees in Lebanon, saying that these concerns have been “exaggerated”, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.

He told the daily that there are no factors on the ground that indicate that refugees will be naturalized, adding that this issue is being exploited for presidential elections purposes.

“Does anyone believe that such an alleged plan exists and that I would accept it or remain silent over it?” he asked.

“Don't they know me and my history?” he wondered.

“We have made the greatest sacrifices to prevent naturalization. We have rejected it in the past and we will not allow it now,” stressed the speaker.

“This issue should be kept out of political debates, especially since the constitutions clearly speaks against naturalization,” Berri added.

Moreover, he said that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon did not address this issue during his recent trip to Lebanon some ten days ago.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil had warned around a week ago that there are attempts to naturalize refugees in Lebanon, demanding that greater efforts be taken to return displaced Syrians to their homeland.

He urged Lebanese officials to take “unilateral” measures to contain the flow of refugees to protect Lebanon's sovereignty.

Lebanon is home to more than 1 million registered Syrian refugees, or nearly a quarter of the country's 4.5 million people. Lebanese officials say that another half a million Syrians live in the country as well.

M.T.

D.A.