Report: GCC Urges Lebanon to Commit to Disassociation Policy to Preserve Expats' Interests

The ties between the Gulf states and Lebanese authorities are expected to deteriorate over the country's alleged failure to abide by the government's policy of disassociation from regional developments amid reports that several parties are involved in the Syrian turmoil.

According to al-Liwaa newspaper published on Wednesday, the Gulf Cooperation Council's secretary general Abdul Latif al-Zayani handed over to President Michel Suleiman the day before a letter expressing “great concern” over the government's failure to abide by the Baabda Declaration.

Sources told the newspaper that the letter stressed the obstacles threatening the Lebanese-Gulf relations and the interests of Lebanon in GCC states including the conditions of around 600,000 expatriates in the Gulf.

The Baabda Declaration was sponsored by Suleiman and calls for different parties to adhere to the disassociation policy to avoid the spread of the unrest in Syria to Lebanese territories.

The meeting between Suleiman and al-Zayani was held at the Baabda Palace in the presence of the Saudi, Kuwaiti, UAE, Qatar and Omani ambassadors to Lebanon.

According to a statement issued by the presidency on Tuesday, the letter called on Lebanese authorities to commit to the disassociation policy to avoid any repercussions on the country's stability and security and to maintain the people's interests and safety.

Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Syrian president Bashar Assad, while the March 14 camp backs the popular revolt.

The international community and analysts have expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into Lebanon.