U.N. Officials Sound Alarm Bells after Gulf States up Pressure on Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
United Nations officials in Beirut have sent a memo to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to sound the alarm on the economic, social and security repercussions of alleged measures taken by several Gulf states against Lebanese nationals residing in those countries, An Nahar daily reported on Wednesday.
The officials issued a warning that such measures, such as the forcible return of the Lebanese to their country, would have a severe impact on Lebanon's already deteriorating economic situation, said An Nahar.
They said the moves could lead to chaos and reflect on the security and social situation in the country, hindering the humanitarian work of the U.N. and its role in the South.
The officials also warned that a fifth column could take advantage of the possible chaos and carry out terrorist attacks, said the report.
The issue was the subject of discussion at separate meetings that Prime Minister Tammam Salam held with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag and French Ambassador Emmanuel Bonne.
There has been reports that Gulf countries will start deporting more Lebanese after taking similar moves in the past.
On Tuesday Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates urged their citizens not to travel to Lebanon, days after Riyadh said it was halting deals worth $4 billion aimed at equipping and supporting Lebanese security forces in retaliation for Lebanon siding with Iran in the Sunni kingdom's spat with the Shiite power.
The new measures against the Lebanese government came after Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who heads the Free Patriotic Movement that is allied with Hizbullah, declined to support Saudi resolutions against Iran during two recent meetings of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers.
G.K.
D.A.
24 February 2016, 08:12
148
Lebanon deserves even more severe and drastic actions. It is a failed state in every sense of the world.
24 February 2016, 09:58
1013
I hope you don't mean that the Lebanese people deserves additional "actions" i'am sure that our daily lives are miserable enough and that we do not deserve collective punishment for a regional power struggle. We have historically always been the weakest link when regional powers settle scores via proxies.
In no way it should be acceptable that we endorse collective punishment policies that embodies ethical bankruptcy from a failed state that still applies dark age social contract.
24 February 2016, 12:50
126
"embodies ethical bankruptcy from a failed state that still applies dark age social contract."
Sounds like you're talking about islamic iran run by wilayat al faqih.
24 February 2016, 11:03
127
The Zionists in Palestine are the Jews, the Zionists in Lebanon are the Iranians and HA. We Lebanese should have our own intifada Southern.
24 February 2016, 12:41
125
Southern; how do you know from where he posts and his motives? Is it possible that we might also know from where you post and your motives? Or it only works your way?
24 February 2016, 15:16
64
Lebanon is a sovereign state and I'm certain that its citizens don't want to be in a country that doesn't
want them there (KSA). Also Iran is now financially able to give Lebanon the financial aid it needs to survive. Neither the UN nor Lebanon can force another country to financially support Lebanon when it's not in its interests to do so.
25 February 2016, 04:51
00
Typical Lebanese leadership driving the country back into the dark ages with pathetic representation. The Foreign Minister is really a joke, but that's is expected following in the foot steps of his brilliant father-in-law who already caused the deaths of thousands of Lebanese due to his little man ego. He gets kicked out of the country then allowed back to represent a group of people in Lebanon and brings in the joke show son-in-law as the Foreign Minister. Now Aoun's clan strikes again, so get the funding from Iran-good luck with that. So what's next, foreign air carriers will stop flying to Lebanon because the airport is not in compliance with international regulations on safety and security. We have already been put on notice about this but I'm sure our great leadership and Foreign Minister will have a solution for this--NOT.
