STORY: EU announces 1 bln euro in aid to Lebanon
SHOOTING TIME: May 2, 2024
DATELINE: May 4, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:53
LOCATION: Beirut
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. Von der Leyen, Christodoulides and Mikati entering Grand Serail
2. various of von der Leyen, Christodoulides and Mikati during talks
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): URSULA VON DER LEYEN, European Commission President
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NIKOS CHRISTODOULIDES, Cypriot President
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): NAJIB MIKATI, Lebanese Prime Minister
6. various of press conference

STORYLINE:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Thursday a 1-billion-euro (about 1.07 billion U.S. dollars) financial assistance package for Lebanon from 2024 to 2027.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): URSULA VON DER LEYEN, European Commission President
"To underline our support, I can announce a financial package of 1 billion euros (about 1.07 billion U.S. dollars) for Lebanon that would be available from this year until 2027. We want to contribute to Lebanon's social economic stability, first by strengthening basic services, investments in, for example, education, social protection, investment in health for the people in Lebanon."

Her remarks came during a joint press conference in Beirut with President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Christodoulides and von der Leyen arrived in Lebanon on Thursday to discuss with Lebanese officials the significant domestic and regional challenges faced by Lebanon, which is hosting a large number of Syrian refugees, and how best the EU could support the country and its people.

For his part, the Cypriot president said he is aware of the pressure of hosting a large number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, noting that the impact is also affecting Cyprus and the EU.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NIKOS CHRISTODOULIDES, Cypriot President
"Cyprus and I have been one of the strongest proponents for further enhancing the European Union-Lebanon relationship and today I am very glad it is substantially moving forward. Dear friends, due to the proximity to the region, Cyprus has a deeper understanding of the issues and the challenges that Lebanon is facing. The reverberations also directly affect Cyprus as well as the European Union."

Meanwhile, Mikati said the biggest part of his meeting with the two officials focused on the Syrian refugees issue, which is putting tremendous pressure on Lebanon and its population.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): NAJIB MIKATI, Lebanese Prime Minister
"What is even worse is the escalation of alienation among displaced Syrians themselves and with some of the Lebanese hosting population, and the result was the rate of crimes that has risen and represented now a great danger to the security of Lebanon and those living in it."

Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita, with the government estimating around 2 million Syrian refugees.

Under current EU regulations, migrants from Syria are entitled to refugee protection.

Cyprus is grappling with an influx of Syrian migrants as over 30,000 people who have received refugee status in the country are entitled to accommodation and a monthly allowance.

Earlier this month, Cyprus suspended the processing of asylum applications by Syrian migrants following mass arrivals by sea and the escalation of regional conflicts.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut.
(XHTV)