Former President Amine Gemayel on Thursday said that Lebanon is going through a "very difficult" phase, adding that hardships the country experienced throughout its contemporary history have caused the disintegration of the State institutions and undermined national unity.

"Lebanon's long-standing suffering, which started with the Palestinian and Syrian eras, led to the dismantling of the Lebanese institutions and national unity to a great extent, and disrupted the management of the country as well as the services provided to the Lebanese," Gemayel said during a lunch banquet held in his honor at the Lebanese consulate in Sydney.

The ex-president emphasized the negative repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis, adding that this issue has become a heavy burden that Lebanon can no longer endure.

"The Lebanese residing in Lebanon are still resisting and standing firm despite everything," he stressed. "We must not despair. Cooperation should be consolidated between the expats and their compatriots who are still in Lebanon in order to rescue the country."

During another meeting with Kataeb supporters in Sydney, Gemayel said that the ruling authority has now decided to embrace Russia's initiative to help ensure the Syrian refugees' return to their country, although it disregarded the Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel's proposal to seek Russia's assistance after his visit to Moscow over one year ago.

Gemayel noted that there is still no international agreement on the refugees' return, warning against turning humanitarian aids provided by the international community into funds aimed at settling the refugees in the host communities.

Gemayel condemned the U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, deeming it as a unilateral move that violates international laws and goes against the course of history.

"This decision does not only disrupt the peace process in the region, but also jeopardizes the Midde East's security and stability by imposing a new status quo,” he added.

"There will be no peace in the region unless it is based on justice,” Gemayel stressed.