Miqati to Isolate Lebanon from Syrian Developments, Says STL Funding Will Continue

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Friday the importance of separating the Lebanese situation from the developments in Syria.

“We shouldn’t interfere in anyone’s (internal) affairs so that no one meddles in ours,” Miqati told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

He said “Lebanon wants to neutralize itself during these conditions, and priority is for the local issues.”

Asked about Lebanon’s stance at the U.N. Security Council if the members reached a resolution on Syria, Miqati said: “We will not oppose the international decision… We isolate ourselves from the Syrian crisis.”

The PM stressed that Lebanon “can’t enter in a confrontation with the international community… We don’t have the power for that.”

Regarding the U.S. sanctions on the Syrian ambassador to Lebanon after some Syrian opposition figures disappeared in Lebanon, Miqati said: “At this stage, many issues are going on that don’t need to be revealed to the public.”

Concerning the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri, he confirmed that his cabinet will keep paying Lebanon’s share.

“Let them stop saying that I’m neutral and I don’t take any decision, the most important issue is Lebanon’s best interest,” he said.

Miqati noted that the Lebanese authorities did everything possible to detain the four suspects in Hariri’s murder, saying: “We did everything according to principles.”

They are Mustafa Badreddin, Salim Ayyash, Assad Sabra and Hussein Oneissi.

On the other hand, he said that the electricity dispute “is a technical issue… the plan is being discussed thoroughly.”

Miqati stressed that “Lebanon never had a unified opinion, we all want to provide (citizens with) electricity according to principles and transparency.”

He refuted any threats of resignation from the cabinet if it didn’t approve the electricity draft law. “If these conditions were placed then the cabinet will not be able to convene anymore,” the PM said.

Miqati expected Lebanon to start receiving bids for oil and gas exploration in the Lebanese waters by the beginning of the upcoming year.

The PM made his first international appearance since his nomination at the "Friends of Libya" conference in Paris on Thursday. Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Lebanese ambassador to France Butros Assaker also attended the meeting.

Miqati held meetings with Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe.

Diplomatic sources told An Nahar newspaper that Miqati’s participation in Libya’s meeting signals a breakthrough in the international isolation that had increased after the STL unsealed the indictment in Hariri’s case.

The sources said that the side talks might have dealt with a possible visit by Miqati to Paris in fall this year.

Later on Friday, the premier telephoned President Michel Suleiman informing him of the talks he held with officials at the conference on Libya.