BEIRUT, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Monday called on the international community to help Lebanon through its pressing conditions of hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees in its territory, according to a statement by Lebanon's Presidency.
During his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Aboul-Gheit said Lebanon had paid a heavy price for more than 10 years because of the presence of refugees on its territories, and this should not be disregarded by the international community.
"Lebanon hosted refugees for many years without any external support. We should not miss this point, especially in the current situation," he noted.
Aoun told Aboul-Gheit about the difficulties faced by Lebanon in hosting a big number of refugees, urging quick solutions to this crisis especially when stability has prevailed in some of the Syrian cities.
On the elections issue, Aboul-Gheit noted "a great determination from President Aoun to organize the elections" at a time when some people fear the postponement of the vote, adding the Arab League is ready to send a team to supervise the legislative elections on May 15.
"We have already taken this step in Algeria, Iraq, Palestine, and many other regions, and I think we will implement it in Lebanon," the Arab League chief said.
Aboul-Gheit, who arrived on Monday in Lebanon to follow up on the latest developments in the crisis-hit country, also met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and House Speaker Nabih Berri. ■
