Last week, ICMPD’s Director General Michael Spindelegger was on mission to Lebanon, meeting with the Ministers of Labour, of Social Affaires and of Interior as well as the Chief of the General Direcorate of the Security General (DGSG).
In the course of these meetings, Mr. Spindelegger learned that the resources and abilities of Lebanon are overstretched due to the conflict in Syria and the hosting of displaced people in its territory. As a result, the Director General said that all efforts and support have to address and deal with the root causes of the Syrian refugee crisis.
Furthermore he offered ICMPD’s good relations with EU institutions and EU Member States to create a greater understanding for needs identified and expressed by the Lebanese Government. Mr Spindelegger emphasised that strong efforts need to be invested to finally end the Syrian conflict and to create conditions for the safe and dignified return of displaced Syrians to their regions of origin.
At the meeting with the Director of Lebanon’s General Directorate of the Security General (DGSG), Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, both sides agreed to pursue further opportunities for cooperation, including the intensification of international efforts to work with Lebanon in addressing the needs of the country vis a vis the refugees situation and the movement of displaced persons in Lebanon. Moreover Mr. Ibrahim reiterated his readiness to deepen cooperation with ICMPD, and expressed his appreciation for the ongoing collaboration between DGSG and the Vienna-based international organisation, the EU funded IBM Lebanon project.