Premier Denies Revolutionary Guards' Presence in Lebanon

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Friday that Iranian Revolutionary Guards are not present in Lebanon, saying that the Lebanese army is keen to safeguard the country.

“We were reassured that the Guards are not present in Lebanon, and the statements concerning their presence were referring to a previous period and they are currently in Syria not in Lebanon,” the PM said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

Head of Revolutionary Guards General Mohammed Ali Jaafari said earlier in the month in a very rare news conference in Tehran, that members of the Guards' elite Quds Force were in Syria and Lebanon as advisers -- and asserting that they did not constitute a "military presence.”

The PM pointed out that Lebanon will never become a transit point for any side in Syria, noting that the army has taken all the necessary measures to protect Lebanese territories.

Miqati called for an “honest” Arab action to stop the bloodshed in the neighboring country, rejecting any interference.

He voiced his support to the Baabda declaration that “obliges all the Lebanese not to interfere in the developments in the region... I am certain that Hizbullah will not allow Lebanon to meddle in an issue that doesn't directly concerns it.”

The Baabda declaration, which was adopted by rival leader during a national dialogue session at the Baabda Palace, states that Lebanon must not be used as a sanctuary, a transit point or a base for the smuggling of arms and gunmen.

“Disassociating (Lebanon) aims at halting others from interfering in our affairs,” Miqati told the daily.

However, he warned that Lebanon will not remain on it's stance if it was subjected to any threats by Syria.

Miqati stressed that he is seeking “to prevent the developments in Syria from spilling over into Lebanon.”

Asked if he will run for the 2013 parliamentary elections, the premier confirmed.