U.S. Source Hails Lebanon’s Neutrality on Syria Says Washington Playing Role in Stability

The decision of Premier Najib Miqati’s government to remain neutral on the Syrian crisis is the best formula to preserve stability in Lebanon, a U.S. diplomatic source said Friday.

“The government has resorted to the policy of neutrality towards the Syrian crisis to achieve stability … which we admit it’s the best recipe to preserve stability,” the source told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

Washington’s main concern at this stage is to prevent the upheaval in the neighboring country from upsetting the situation Lebanon, he said. “That’s why we reiterate our concern that Syria’s instability could affect Lebanon.”

But the source expressed relief that the number of Syrian refugees who have crossed into Lebanon and the Syrian violations of Lebanon’s borders have so far been relatively limited.

The United Nations estimates more than 5,000 people have been killed in Syria as Syrian President Bahsar Assad's forces crack down on anti-regime protests now in their tenth month.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said last week that there are now 5,238 refugees, constituting 976 families, registered in the north with the agency and Lebanon’s Higher Relief Council.

“We believe that Premier Najib Miqati’s government was able in the six months since it came to power to keep Lebanon to some extent stable despite what’s happening with your neighbors,” the source told al-Hayat.

The U.S. stance from the developments in Syria also helps the preservation of stability in Lebanon, he said. “We are keen on keeping a distance from what’s happening there.”