Clinton –Mikati Meeting: Int’l Conference to Support LA, Lebanon Not A Corridor for Syrian Crisis
Local Editor
"As-Safir" Lebanese daily revealed Friday that the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed a letter to PM Najib Mikati, in which it confirmed that "Washington doesn't cover to any internal Lebanese party that seeks to exploit the Syrian developments in order to undermine stability in Lebanon and the region.
For his part, Mikati expressed for the first time his concerns from the consequences of the Syrian crisis on the Lebanese stability.
He further highlighted the Lebanese internal constraints that prevent the Lebanese state from stopping violations along the borders with Syria.
During his meeting with Clinton in New York, the PM voiced concern over the situation in the North. "A country like Lebanon can't handle the flow of extremists, as a result of the Syrian crisis, because at a certain stage they will become a stand-alone problem that will shake the internal stability."
In parallel, Mikati reiterated his support for the Lebanese Army. "I don't want to leave the Lebanese Army alone in the confrontation, and I am keen on supporting it through politics and arms," he said.
He also tackled the plan approved by the Lebanese government to support the Lebanese army by $ 1.6 billion over five years, and hinted in this context to the idea of holding an international conference that adopts this plan.
For her part, Clinton welcomed this idea, believing it would be worth discussion with international parties.
In another level, the US official assured Mikati that "Washington does not want Lebanon a corridor to the Syrian crisis in any form."
"Let the Lebanese state take any necessary measure to prevent this from happening," she stressed and pointed out that "there will be no US reservation."
However, Clinton, according to "as-Safir", confirmed that her country "will help to prevent any internal disturbance in Lebanon as a result of Syrian implications.
Source: as-Safir, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
