BEIRUT (Xinhua) – United Nations special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said on Monday that the UN is working on finding appropriate ways to allow Syrian refugees to return to their homeland, a statement by Lebanon’s presidency reported.
“This is a priority for the UN during the deliberations taking place in Geneva, in which Lebanon was invited to participate,” Pedersen said during his meeting at Baabda Palace with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
Pederson expressed the appreciation of the UN and the international community for the care provided by the Lebanese state to the displaced Syrians despite the difficult economic conditions prevailing in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Aoun told Pedersen that the international community must assume responsibility by securing the return of displaced Syrians to their homeland instead of staying in Lebanon and relying on financial support from international organizations.
More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the Lebanese government estimated the real number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million.
On Sunday, Pedersen said that he sees new possibilities for a political solution in Syria after his meetings with officials from the West and Arab countries.
“I think there is a possibility now to start to explore what I call a step-for-step approach, where you put on the table steps that are defined with precisions, that are verifiable, that hopefully can start to build some trust,” Pedersen told the reporters in Damascus.
He added that he had been traveling extensively among Arab countries, while conducting “in-depth discussions” with the Americans and the Europeans.
He pointed out that the stances of all regional and international players should be analyzed, as well as developments in Syria, in order to reach a comprehensive political solution to the country’s decade-long war.
“My message is that there is another possibility to start to explore possible avenues, to start to move forward on this process,” he said.
The remarks by the UN envoy came as public anger has escalated against the West’s support for terrorists that led to destruction of the country.