U.S. warns Mikati over Syria sanctions
\nSeptember 27, 2011 – By Mirella Hodeib -The Daily Star<\/p>\n
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Najib Mikati told U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Lebanon will fulfill its international obligations Monday, while Clinton cautioned Mikati against becoming involved in the situation in Syria.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe discussed the many international obligations that Lebanon has and the prime minister assured me that Lebanon would always fulfill [its] international obligations,\u201d Clinton told reporters following a meeting with Mikati at the office of the president of the U.N. Security Council in New York.<\/p>\n
She also vowed that the U.S. would continue providing assistance to the Lebanese Army.<\/p>\n
Mikati told The Daily Star that the U.S. administration was \u201cunderstanding\u201d and aware of the peculiar nature of Lebanese politics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey showed understanding for our situation and the most important thing for them is that Lebanon keeps a neutral stance,\u201d he added, in reference to events in Syria.<\/p>\n
Echoing Mikati, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said Clinton expressed to the Lebanese prime minister the U.S. administration\u2019s understanding of Lebanon\u2019s \u201cvery delicate situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe secretary reiterated our strong commitment to Lebanon, our understanding that Lebanon is in a very delicate situation and our support for Lebanon\u2019s unity, Lebanon\u2019s stability, and Lebanon\u2019s sovereignty,\u201d said the former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also cautioned the prime minister that Lebanon needs to be very, very careful in not getting caught up in the unrest in Syria, in terms of not allowing Lebanon to be a way for Syria to evade sanctions and accountability for the brutality that the Syria government is showing against its people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to a statement circulated by Mikati\u2019s media office, the prime minister informed the U.S. delegation that his government was working on \u201cpromoting stability in Lebanon and safeguarding it against the negative repercussions of events in the region.\u201d
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