The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) accused US President Donald Trump and western countries of punishing Lebanon economically because of the crisis of the displaced.
FPM official and former MP Nabil Nicolas said the Lebanese were “now facing two options: either accept the Syrian displaced in Lebanon until the achievement of a political solution, alike the Palestinian way with financial enticements, or allow their return to safe areas in Syria and help them in their country.”
The former deputy noted, however, that Trump and western countries were against the second solution, and were “punishing Lebanon economically.”
This position indicates that the FPM, which is considered to be affiliated with President Michel Aoun, chose to resort to a political confrontation with the West over the issue of the displaced, which would entail negative repercussions on the economic situation and the aid that was approved for Lebanon during the Cedre Conference held in Paris.
Nicolas’ remarks followed a campaign launched by the head of the FPM, Foreign Minister in the caretaker government Gebran Bassil, against the UNHCR, in response to what he described as the international agency’s attempts to “discourage the displaced Syrians to return to their homeland.”
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, FPM member and deputy in Strong Lebanon bloc Mario Aoun, said that the FPM separated “between the US and foreign aid to Lebanon and its firm stance towards the return of the displaced to Syria.”
“Lebanon cannot regain its health if this amount of displaced remained on its territories. We are dealing with this file based on the country’s higher interests,” Aoun said, noting that the Lebanese government would deal with this file and not solely the FPM.
Despite the sharp tone used by the FPM, MP Mario Aoun stressed that Lebanon would not challenge the international community, “which is helping us economically through the Cedre Conference and other.”
Director of the Middle East Institute for Strategic Affairs and Economic Expert Dr. Sami Nader warned that Lebanon “does not have the economic and strategic capabilities to enter into a confrontation with the West.”
“It’s like a political and economic suicide,” he said.
Nader told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon “cannot launch a campaign against the West over the issue of the displaced, because the country knows that the only way for their return is through the Russian side, which has the political decision in Syria.”
He stressed that the return of the displaced would only be achieved through a Russian-US plan.
