by Naharnet – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held talks Thursday
with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace at the beginning of a
three-day visit to Lebanon. After a bilateral meeting between the two leaders, the
members of the Palestinian and Lebanese delegations joined the talks,
state-run National News Agency said. “We agreed to coordinate stances and cooperate in a
manner that serves the interests of our two countries and the causes of
justice and peace for which we have offered dear sacrifices,” Aoun said
at a joint press conference after the talks. “I stressed the importance of President Abbas’ role in
preserving the stability of the (Palestinian refugee) camps so that they
don’t turn into hubs for those seeking to take advantage of the
Palestinian people’s plights,” Aoun added, referring to extremist
groups. Abbas for his part voiced confidence that the talks with
Aoun “will lead to strengthening the ties of brotherhood and
cooperation between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.”

And stressing that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are
only “guests,” the Palestinian leader vowed to exert all efforts
possible to achieve “their certain return to their homeland Palestine.” Abbas also said the Palestinian factions are committed
to preserving security in refugee camps around Lebanon and that they
stand against terrorism in all its forms. Abbas is accompanied by Palestinian Presidency spokesman
Nabil Abu Rudeina, Fatah Movement’s Central Committee official Azzam
al-Ahmed and Fatah official spokesman Ahmed Assaf. By long-standing convention, the Lebanese army does not
enter the twelve Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, leaving the
Palestinian factions themselves to handle security. That has created lawless areas in many camps. More than 450,000 Palestinians are registered in Lebanon
with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA. Most live in
squalid conditions in 12 official refugee camps and face a variety of
legal restrictions, including on their employment.