Mikati: We may deport every Syrian who does not have a work or residence permit

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati revealed the measures his government will take against Syrian refugees in Lebanon and return them to Syria.

Mikati said in a televised interview yesterday evening, Thursday: "We may have to deport every Syrian refugee who does not have a work permit or official residence."

He added, "We are living in a crisis in Lebanon and we are forced to take measures regarding the Syrian refugees. We cannot wait until the crisis in Syria ends to return the refugees," as he put it.

Mikati considered that the current Syrian presence in Lebanon "may lead to a demographic change in the country, and decisions must be taken within this framework that take into account international laws."

The Lebanese Prime Minister-designate added that the recent amnesty decisions issued by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "help the return of Syrian refugees to their homes."

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