In October 2005, the Lebanese Council of Ministers outlined a new policy to create a committee from various ministries in order to address the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The Lebanese - Palestinian Dialogue Committee’s mandate includes providing Palestinian refugees in Lebanon with the conditions to live in dignity, prosperity, security and harmony with their environment until they are able to exercise their right of return as stipulated in United Nation’s Resolution 194 and the Arab Peace Initiative. The LPDC recognizes that the living conditions of the refugees within the camps are dire and unacceptable, and that the lack of opportunities available to the refugees is an impediment to their welfare and their right to live a dignified and prosperous life under the rule of law. Furthermore, the LPDC operates within the framework of respect for Lebanon’s stability, independence and sovereignty.
By recognizing this we have turned a new leaf on a difficult and painful past full of mistakes on all sides and for which both the Lebanese and Palestinians have paid too high a price. We are looking towards a brighter future under the rule of law for all people living on Lebanese soil.
The appointment of Palestinian Ambassador Abbas Zaki and the reopening of Palestinian diplomatic representation in Beirut was the first important step.
Our main partners in this mission are the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as the official representative of the Palestinian people. We all work in collaboration with the international community and with non-governmental and civil society organizations. We also work with the general population in order to raise awareness and to encourage reconciliation in terms of ensuring human rights for Palestinian refugees and respecting Lebanese law and sovereignty. We must continue to work hand-in-hand with all our partners and stakeholders towards building trust and a brighter future pending a just and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict of which the refugee issue is a central component.
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