Berri Says Contacts with Syria 'Serve' Lebanon’s Economy

Speaker Nabih Berri voiced hopes that a quick solution is reached for the crisis of Syrian refugees, noting that “coordination” between the Lebanese and Syrian governments on the issue serves Lebanon, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

Berri was quoted as telling his visitors that endeavors must be intensified to solve the crisis of refugees. He said “there is a need for communication between the Lebanese and Syrian governments to follow up on the refugees issue and solve it.”

The Speaker stressed: “Solving the crisis falls in Lebanon’s and Syria’s interests alike,” adding that “having contacts with Syria serve Lebanon’s interest economically mainly when the phase of Syria’s reconstruction begins.”

Seven years into Syria's war, Lebanon hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees, compared with a local population of 4.5 million.

Over the past few months, more than 800 Syrians have left Lebanon for their neighboring home country in operations organised by the governments of Beirut and Damascus.

Several thousand have also independently left in recent years.

Coordination between Lebanon and Syria is a contentious issue in Lebanon.

Some of Lebanon's political parties support it, while others who blame the Syrian regime for the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri categorically reject it.