Canada pledges to help Lebanon hosting Syrian refugees

Visiting Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said on Monday a political solution for the Syrian crisis will help solve the issue of displaced Syrians in Lebanon and pledged to aid Lebanon in hosting the refugees.

Dion, who arrived Friday for a four-day visit, met with President Michel Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Beirut.

The Canadian foreign minister said his country is assisting Lebanon in several developmental and non-developmental projects. Aoun, for his part, focused on the need for a political solution for the Syrian crisis.

Later on Monday, Dion met with his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil and held a joint press conference.

"We support Lebanon... and we will do all that we can to aid Lebanon in accommodating the refugees," the visiting Canadian minister said.

Over the weekend, Dion held separate meetings with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Democratic Gathering bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt.

source: Xinhua