Greek PM in Lebanon: ‘Syria needs to be inclusive’

The prime minister of Greece said Monday the fall of President Bashar Assad’s government in Syria is a “welcome development” but it entails considerable security and migration risks.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters in Lebanon’s capital Beirut Monday after a meeting caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati that the political process ahead in Syria needs to be inclusive to encompass all the groups while addressing the current fragmentation of the country.

“The people of Syria have also suffered a lot and must not be subjected to yet more displacement,” Mitsotakis said.

The Greek premier expressed hopes that future stability in Syria will permit millions of refugees who left their country because of the conflict to return home.

Syria’s conflict which broke out in March 2011, has killed half a million people and displaced more than 5 million people, many of whom are now in Europe.

Lebanon is the largest per capita host of refugees in the world, as the small Mediterranean nation of about 6 million people, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered.

Mitsotakis said Athens backs the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.

Greece committed to Lebanon

Mitsotakis emphasized that his visit demonstrates Greece’s strong commitment to Lebanon.

“You know the strong ties between Lebanon and Greece, I don’t need to repeat them, they are well known. The fact that I am the first foreign leader to visit Lebanon after the ceasefire and the developments in Syria means a lot to me. We have a lot to discuss,” the Greek prime minister said.

Greek Prime Minister also met with the Patriarch of Antioch, John, and acknowledged the pivotal role of the Patriarchate in this troubled region.