U.N. Officials Sound Alarm Bells after Gulf States up Pressure on Lebanon
United Nations officials in Beirut have sent a memo to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to sound the alarm on the economic, social and security repercussions of alleged measures taken by several Gulf states against Lebanese nationals residing in those countries, An Nahar daily reported on Wednesday.
The officials issued a warning that such measures, such as the forcible return of the Lebanese to their country, would have a severe impact on Lebanon's already deteriorating economic situation, said An Nahar.
They said the moves could lead to chaos and reflect on the security and social situation in the country, hindering the humanitarian work of the U.N. and its role in the South.
The officials also warned that a fifth column could take advantage of the possible chaos and carry out terrorist attacks, said the report.
The issue was the subject of discussion at separate meetings that Prime Minister Tammam Salam held with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag and French Ambassador Emmanuel Bonne.
There has been reports that Gulf countries will start deporting more Lebanese after taking similar moves in the past.
On Tuesday Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates urged their citizens not to travel to Lebanon, days after Riyadh said it was halting deals worth $4 billion aimed at equipping and supporting Lebanese security forces in retaliation for Lebanon siding with Iran in the Sunni kingdom's spat with the Shiite power.
The new measures against the Lebanese government came after Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who heads the Free Patriotic Movement that is allied with Hizbullah, declined to support Saudi resolutions against Iran during two recent meetings of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers.
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