Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that the return of displaced Syrians to safe areas in their country would contribute significantly to social stability in Lebanon, as hundreds of refugees left the border town of Shebaa to Beit Jen, which witnessed a reconciliation agreement at the end of 2017. The National News Agency (NNA) reported that Syrian buses have arrived on Wednesday in Shebaa to transport a number of Syrian refugees to their hometowns. Many refugees have boarded the buses as per previously prepared lists, under the command of the Lebanese General Security. According to the agency, 15 Syrian buses have transported 500 Syrians in line with pre-arranged lists, under the General Security’s supervision, after a delay of about an hour time due to some administrative obstacles. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it was aware of this process but did not participate in it. In a statement, the UN agency said its teams were on the ground to talk with the refugees and the concerned authorities and assess the circumstances in which they would return. It added that it would not participate in the organization of this process or other movements of return at this stage, given the humanitarian and security situation prevailing in Syria. “UNHCR, however, respects the individual decisions of refugees to return to their country of origin when taken without pressure,” the agency said in the statement, while the NNA stressed that refugees of different age groups have decided to return to their homeland voluntarily. Meanwhile, Aoun said on Wednesday that the return of displaced Syrians to safe areas in their country would contribute significantly to social stability in Lebanon. The president was speaking before the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, whom he received at the Baabda Palace. “The international organizations have sensed the desire of Syrians to return to safe areas where there is no fighting,” Aoun said. “There are groups that have begun voluntary returning to Syrian cities, which confirms the existence of security conditions that allow that.”