BEIRUT: Prime Minister Najib Mikati
said the validity of Lebanon’s disassociation policy from events in Syria would
be borne out once the crisis ended, Al-Joumhouria reported Tuesday.
Mikati also observed that, as a
result of the growing rift between Syria and much of the Arab world, Lebanon
finds itself in a quandary.
“They do not realize that taking a
position [against Syria] would hurt our geopolitical interests, while being
against Arabs would force us to lose in several ways,” Mikati told the
newspaper.
“All this leads us to consider that
the disassociation policy is the right policy. It will be proven to the
Lebanese after the storm has passed that this policy was the best,” he added.
Mikati also noted that Lebanon
cannot be in conflict with neighboring Syria given bilateral economic and
political agreements between the two countries, stressing that this aspect of
the relationship should not be ignored.
As for the country’s relationship
with Arab countries, which have almost unanimously voiced their opposition to
President Bashar Assad, Mikati said: “If we take a position contrary to the
Arab will, I fear that our excellent relationship with Arab countries might be
affected.”
But the prime minister noted that
his government’s policy to disassociate Lebanon from growing regional and
international pressure on Assad does not affect the country’s humanitarian aid
to the thousands of Syrian refugees on Lebanese soil.
“We disassociate ourselves
politically but we don't disassociate from the needs of our Syrian brethren and
our humanity,” Mikati said.
There are 6,916 registered Syrian
refugees in Lebanon, with most concentrated in the Akkar region, according to
the Social Affairs Ministry. Around 200 families take refuge in the country on
a weekly basis.
Mikati also spoke about his improved
relationship with head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel
Aoun. Aoun and Mikati’s relationship worsened after the latter decided to
suspend Cabinet sessions following disputes with Change and Reform bloc
ministers over civil service appointments and over former Labor Minister
Charbel Nahhas’ refusal to sign a Cabinet decree.
The latter issue was resolved when
Nahhas resigned and Aoun nominated Salim Jreissati, a a judge, to replace him.
Jreissati has since been appointed labor minister.
Of his interaction with Aoun, Mikati observed,
"The relationship is good and after what happened with Aoun, I now respect
his approach. He is a man of principle."http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Feb-28/164887-mikati-lauds-dissasociation-policy-promises-aid-to-syrian-refugees.ashx#axzz1naY8As4a
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