British Minister from Beirut: Don't Send Your Sons to Fight and Die in Syria

British Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt on Monday called on the Lebanese to refrain from sending fighters to war-torn Syria, reiterating “the importance of international community support to Lebanon's disassociation policy.”

“As I discussed with Speaker (Nabih) Berri, President (Michel) Suleiman and the Army Commander (General Jean Qahwaji) today, I am pleased that we are, together, building Lebanon’s capacity to protect its sovereignty,” Burt said after talks with Berri in Ain al-Tineh.

“At this challenging time, I say to Lebanon: ‘Don’t send your sons to fight and die in Syria.’ Getting sucked in to Syria’s conflict would be easy. Neutrality is the braver choice. Disassociation is the only policy that works for Lebanon,” Burt added.

He called on all political parties to “engage urgently with PM-designate Tammam Salam to form a government and run the legislative election.”

“Uncertainty in the region is no excuse for dodging the constitutional timeframe for elections. The technical work is done. Now it is time for all parties to put Lebanon first. I call on Lebanon’s politicians to agree an elections law to enable elections to take place within the constitutional timeline,” Burt said.

“Burt later reinforced these messages with PM-Designate Tammam Salam. He also reiterated the UK’s readiness to support the transparent management of Lebanon’s oil and gas resources, noting the success of all six British companies in the oil and gas pre-qualification round,” said a press release issued by the British embassy in Lebanon.

Burt announced $400,000 of UK capacity building support to the Lebanese parliamentary elections.

In his meeting with Qahwaji, Burt discussed “Lebanese stability and welcomed the increased cooperation between the UK and the Lebanese Armed Forces to protect Lebanon's sovereignty.”

Burt also visited the offices of the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), where he met Syrian refugees and highlighted the UK’s $40m contribution to the response to the Syrian humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

The British minister also heard from religious leaders from across Lebanon's confessions about the importance of “inter-faith dialogue in times of regional uncertainty.”

Before leaving Beirut, Burt will attend the first Social Media Awards in Lebanon, where he will discuss Digital Diplomacy and freedom of expression with digital activists, according to the embassy's press release.

“This is Burt's third visit to Lebanon and builds on the visit by British Foreign Secretary William Hague, in February 2013. Mr. Hague announced $17m for use in Lebanon bringing the total to $40m of UK funding for the Lebanon humanitarian response,” said the embassy.