Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour strongly believes that he is being targeted by the Syrian regime through its Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali .
“The Syrian messages area a prelude to a bomb that wil taget me” Abu Faour who represents the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in the cabinet was quoted as saying on Monday in response to the second letter received from the Syrian envoy.
PSP is headed by MP Walid Jumblatt who has been a leading critic of the Syrian regime in its crackdown against the Syrian people.
Abu Faour’s comment was in response to the second letter of complaint that was sent by Syria’s envoy to Lebanon to the Social Affairs Ministry accusing it of aiding refugees based on their political affiliation.
“The Syrian ambassador sent a new letter with accusations against the Social Affairs Ministry and I repeatedly said that after the holidays, I will respond to such allegations,” Abu Faour told reporters.
His remarks came after meeting with Future Movement and Sidon MP Bahia Hariri to discuss the situation of Syrian and Palestinian refugees who are fleeing violence in the neighboring country.
“It is now required of me to send two letters instead of one in response and it is clear now that the Syrian ambassador is taking this too far,” Abu Faour said, adding that the second letter to the Foreign Ministry was sent on Saturday.
Syria’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry earlier this month, saying the embassy had been receiving complaints from Syrian refugees about some “extremist Salafist organizations” in Lebanon blackmailing Syrian refugees in Lebanon and exploiting their desperate situations to serve their own agenda.
These organizations, continued the letter, offer to help refugees receive aid through the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees on condition that they announce they are against the Syrian regime and have joined the opposition.
Abu Faour has denied the allegations that his ministry was discriminating against Syrians who support the regime of President Bashar Assad and those who favor the opposition.
“Such a thing could not affect our work with the refugees because that is purely humanitarian and ethical and cannot be disrupted by some people’s behavior,” the minister said.
DS/ agencies
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