Lebanese FM says he will wait for clear definition of Trump's 'safe zones for Syria

Record ID: 165967

  • Title: Lebanese FM says he will wait for clear definition of Trump's 'safe zones for Syria
  • Date: 26th January 2017
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (JANUARY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF FEDERICA MOGHERINI ARRIVING TO LEBANON'S FOREIGN MINISTRY / LEBANESE FOREIGN MINISTER GEBRAN BASSIL GREETING MOGHERINI AT THE MINISTRY'S ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF BASSIL AND MOGHERINI MEETING MOGHERINI AND BASSIL ARRIVING TO NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM LEBANON'S FOREIGN MINISTRY LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE FOREIGN MINISTER, GEBRAN BASSIL, SAYING: "The U.S. president spoke yesterday about safe zones, we will wait to see if he means it in its international legal expression or in a way that means securing the safety and stability for Syrians to go back home - which is what Lebanon is calling for - and we think this is possible inside Syria in a way which is acceptable by Syrians to provide them a safe return." JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, FEDERICA MOGHERINI, SAYING: "We will consider plans when they come. What is essential for us and what we are doing so far, so I am not referring to plans - I am talking about real things that are happening, is the support to the Syrian refugees and the countries that are hosting them; as you know but it is good for me to repeat it, here especially because I know very well that this is a key issue in Lebanon, what the European Union is doing is being the first donor for Syrian refugees inside Syria and in the surrounding countries, in Lebanon, in Jordan, in Turkey, but also inside Syria." EUROPEAN UNION FLAG MOGHERINI AND BASSIL SHAKING HANDS VARIOUS OF LEBANESE FLAG OUTSIDE THE FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 9th February 2017 13:46
  • Keywords: Lebanon European Union Gebran Bassil Federica Mogherini U.S. Trump Syria
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00160PXOP3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Thursday (January 26) Lebanon will wait for a clear definition to what U.S. President Donald Trump meant by 'safe zones' when he said on Wednesday (January 25) he 'will absolutely do safe zones in Syria' for refugees fleeing violence in the war-torn country.
    "The U.S. president spoke yesterday about safe zones, we will wait to see if he means it in its international legal expression or in a way that means securing the safety and stability for Syrians to go back home - which is what Lebanon is calling for - and we think this is possible inside Syria in a way which is acceptable by Syrians to provide them a safe return," Bassil, who encourages the return of Syrian refugees to their home-country, said.
    Bassil was speaking during a joint news conference with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini, whom he received at the foreign ministry in Beirut during her visit to the country.
    Trump said on Wednesday (January 25) he "will absolutely do safe zones in Syria" for refugees fleeing violence in the war-torn country. According to a document seen by Reuters on Wednesday, Trump is expected to order the Pentagon and the State Department in coming days to craft a plan for setting up the "safe zones," a move that could risk escalation of U.S. military involvement in Syria's civil war.
    When asked to comment about the U.S. plan to create safe zones for Syrian refugees, Mogherini said she would comment after seeing the plans.
    "We will consider plans when they come. What is essential for us and what we are doing so far, so I am not referring to plans - I am talking about real things that are happening, is the support to the Syrian refugees and the countries that are hosting them; as you know but it is good for me to repeat it, here especially because I know very well that this is a key issue in Lebanon, what the European Union is doing is being the first donor for Syrian refugees inside Syria and in the surrounding countries, in Lebanon, in Jordan, in Turkey, but also inside Syria," Mogherini added.
    Earlier on Thursday, Mogherini met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and received Syrian refugee students at the EU ambassador's house in the Lebanese capital. She was also due to attend the opening of the 23rd European Film Festival in Beirut later in the day.
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