Report: Gulf Countries Will Not Hassle Lebanese Expats, Warn against Undermining their Stability

The Gulf countries have no intention to take extreme measures against the Lebanese expats on their territories, but they will not tolerate any person undermining the Gulf Cooperation Council states stability, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Friday.

A GCC diplomat told the newspaper that the Gulf authorities will not tolerate any security threat that is a priority.

The source expressed hope that Lebanese officials would realize the consequences of any military intervention in the crisis in Syria and the negative repercussion on Lebanon and the Lebanese.

Earlier this month, the GCC expressed “great concern” over the government's failure to abide by the dissociation policy as declared in Baabda last year in a letter handed over to President Michel Suleiman.

The Baabda Declaration was sponsored by Suleiman and calls for different parties to adhere to the disassociation policy to avoid the spread of the unrest in Syria to Lebanese territories.

The diplomat pointed out that the letter aims at clarifying to the Lebanese authorities the risks undertaken for failing to abide by the Arab decision over the developments in the neighboring country.

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour called in his speech at the Arab Ministerial Council in Cairo last week for scrapping a decision to suspend the membership of Syria from the Arab League.

The minister's statement drew ire of several officials locally including Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

However, Mansour down played criticism on his speech after returning to Beirut, saying that he “carefully” chose his words as he is keen to preserve Lebanon's best interest.

Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Syrian president Bashar Assad, while the March 14 camp backs the popular revolt.

The international community and analysts have expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into Lebanon.