Date: Apr 27, 2018 Source: The Daily Star Aoun rejects EU, UN statement on Syrian refugees post Brussels conference BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun Thursday said the joint statement by the European Union and United Nations after yesterday’s Brussels conference on the Syrian refugee crisis infringed on Lebanese sovereignty. "I declare my rejection of the statement issued by the [EU and UN], including what was stated on ‘voluntary return,’ ‘temporary return,’ ‘will to stay,’ and ‘integration in the labor market’ and other words that contradict the sovereignty and laws of the Lebanese state,” Aoun said in a statement released by his office Thursday evening. Aoun said the only solution to the crisis was the safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees to “the possible areas inside Syria ... as there are many areas [there] that are safe” and called for the international community to remember that Lebanon is dealing with the refugee crisis based on “brotherly ties and humanitarian obligation."