Canadian official condemns Israel's 'unlawful invasion' and announces new aid to Lebanon
- Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai described Israel's presence in southern Lebanon as an "unlawful invasion" during a visit to Beirut.
- Sarai said Canada supports Lebanon's sovereignty and has been working through diplomatic channels to help Lebanese communities return to areas affected by the war.
- He announced three new aid programs for Lebanon, bringing Canada's assistance to the country this year to more than 71 million Canadian dollars.
- Canada said it has provided about 800 million Canadian dollars in aid to Lebanon over the past 10 years, including nearly 38 million Canadian dollars announced in March.
- Sarai met with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and said he was encouraged by their promised reforms.
- He also said Canada wants conditions in Syria to be safe enough for refugees to return, as Lebanon has hosted large numbers of Syrian refugees during the civil war.
A Canadian government official on a visit to Beirut criticized Israel's military presence in Lebanon, calling it an "unlawful invasion" and saying Lebanon should control its own territory. Randeep Sarai, Canada's secretary of state for international development, said Canada had been using diplomatic channels to help create conditions that would allow displaced Lebanese residents to return home.
During the trip, Sarai announced three new Canadian aid programs for Lebanon aimed at vulnerable families and women. Canada said the new programs raise this year's assistance to Lebanon to more than 71 million Canadian dollars. The country said it has provided about 800 million Canadian dollars in support to Lebanon over the past decade.
Sarai visited shelters for people displaced by the war and Syrian refugees, and met President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. He said he was optimistic about the government's promised reforms and said Canada remained committed to supporting Lebanon. He also said Canada wants conditions in Syria to be safe enough for refugees to return.
加拿大官员谴责以色列对黎巴嫩的“非法入侵”并宣布新的对黎援助
一名加拿大政府官员在贝鲁特访问期间批评以色列在黎巴嫩的军事存在，称其为“非法入侵”，并表示黎巴嫩应当控制自己的领土。加拿大国际发展国务秘书兰迪普·萨赖说，加拿大一直通过外交渠道努力创造条件，帮助因战争流离失所的黎巴嫩居民返回家园。
萨赖在访问中宣布加拿大向黎巴嫩推出三项新的援助项目，面向脆弱家庭和女性。加拿大表示，这些新项目使其今年对黎援助总额超过7100万加元。过去10年，加拿大已向黎巴嫩提供约8亿加元援助。
萨赖还探访了收容战乱流离失所者和叙利亚难民的庇护所，并会见了总统约瑟夫·奥恩和总理纳瓦夫·萨拉姆。他说自己对政府承诺推进改革持乐观态度，并表示加拿大仍将继续支持黎巴嫩。他同时表示，加拿大希望叙利亚局势能够安全到足以让难民返回。