EU Urges Respect for Dissociation Policy by All Sides in Lebanon, Syria

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday strongly condemned “the attacks on targets on Lebanese soil by the Syrian armed forces,” noting that “these actions constitute a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.”

She stressed that “attacks against any of the neighboring countries are unacceptable.”

“Lebanon is not party to the Syrian conflict and has publicly dissociated itself from that conflict. This needs to be respected by all sides in Syria, by all actors in Lebanon, as well as third countries,” Ashton pointed out.

She reiterated the EU's commitment to “Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, territorial

integrity and unity.”

Ashton has repeatedly warned of a possible spill-over of the Syrian conflict into neighboring countries.

She called on all actors in the international community alongside with the EU to “actively contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”