Mansour: Lebanon to Take Part in Geneva Talks and Solution to Syria's Crisis Is Political
Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour announced on Friday that Lebanon will take part in the Geneva II summit, explaining that the solution to Syria's crisis “can only be political.”
"As we are keen on finding a solution to this ongoing crisis and its consequences, we decided that Lebanon will participate in the Geneva talks next month,” Mansour said at the opening ceremony of the Association of Local Economic Development Agency of Beirut Southern Suburbs.
"And the solution can only be political,” he stressed.
He revealed that some factions are working on obstructing holding the international talks.
“Information obtained point out to this direction,” he told reporters.
"We consider that postponing the summit obstructs the chances of a political solution and increases violence in Syria. This will have negative consequences on the East and on Lebanon in particular, whether politically, economically or on the security situation.”
Mansour reiterated that Geneva II must be held on time "to stop the killings in Syria and to avoid jeopardizing stability in the country and the region, and preventing foreign interference in the country's politics."
The caretaker minister also noted that Lebanon's representation at the summit will have positive results on the country's security situation, politics and economy.
He added: "We have repeatedly called on the international community to share with us the cost of hosting Syria's refugees so that they live a decent life, especially that they are forcibly taking refuge outside their country.”
U.N.-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi inaugurated on Friday the preparatory meeting for the Geneva II summit in the Swiss city, with the participation of U.S. and Russia delegations.
Lebanon has officially received an invitation to take part in the talks over Syria's ongoing war, which will take place on January 22, 2014.
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