Reports: Top Diplomats Warn Lebanese Officials against Street Protests
Several top diplomats have advised Lebanese officials to avoid moves that would hit the country's stability over a dispute on the appointment of top military and security officials, local newspapers reported on Friday.
Al-Joumhouria daily said that the diplomats, mainly U.S. Ambassador David Hale and Russia's Ambassador Alexander Zasypkin, delivered messages to several Lebanese officials on “the importance of respecting the current stability and not to involve the country in any adventure whose repercussions are not known.”
An Nahar newspaper, meanwhile, specified that the “U.S.-Russian” message was delivered to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.
It said that the ambassadors advised Aoun to be “wise” and resort to the political opposition to certain controversial issues rather than to the streets.
The diplomats warned him that street protests would jeopardize the country's stability, harm the military institution and paralyze the government.
The FPM has been holding intense consultations ahead of an extraordinary meeting for Aoun's Change and Reform bloc on Saturday aimed at issuing a stance from a decision taken by Defense Minister Samir Moqbel to extend the terms of top military officials.
The movement has been for months announcing its rejection of extensions, calling for the appointment of new high-ranking military and security officials.
G.K.
D.A.
07 August 2015, 07:50
26
It said that the ambassadors advised Aoun to be “wise”
you're talking to a brick wall
07 August 2015, 08:33
60
Conclusion of this message: as long as Lebanese stay at home and under control then they have a safe life...this says a lot of the real situation of Lebanon.
07 August 2015, 15:11
37
kazan, then you go to the streets and make your protest. Write Kazan on your flag and I'll pelt you will all the rotten eggs I can bring. TSK.
07 August 2015, 15:33
14
From the people I am talking too. I think this is what will happen to the protesters: they will be pelted with eggs and trash.
07 August 2015, 09:19
15
It's like we're not subjected to enough garbage in the streets already!
07 August 2015, 10:40
15
Yesterday, Someone asked : "why Iran is an enemy?"
1-it has an army within Lebanon trying tontake over the whole country.
2-Iran is feeding this army with money, weapons and military advisers.
3-Iran is directing, commanding and ordering this army, which is doing wars against the inrerest of Lebanon.
4-Iran has interests opposite to the interest of Lebanon: namely developping National Unity and working for peaceful solutions in the region.
5-Iran wants to reach the Mediterranean sea through South Lebanon for extending its regional power...and making mire wars..
6-It has kidnapped the entire Shi3a community and made of it an extremist community...
7-Iran wants to create an Islamic Republic in Lebanon.
Is that sufficient to make of Iran an enemy?
07 August 2015, 10:42
05
Yesterday, Someone asked : "why Iran is an enemy?"
1-Iran has an army within Lebanon trying to take over the whole country.
2-Iran is feeding this army with money, weapons and military advisers.
3-Iran is directing, commanding and ordering this army, which is doing wars against the interest of Lebanon.
4-Iran has interests opposite to the interest of Lebanon: namely against developping National Unity and working for peaceful solutions in the region.
5-Iran wants to reach the Mediterranean sea through South Lebanon for extending its regional power...and making more wars..
6-It has kidnapped the entire Shi3a community and made of it an extremist community...
7-Iran wants to create an Islamic Republic in Lebanon.
Is that sufficient to make of Iran an enemy?
07 August 2015, 11:17
05
how exactly is iran an enemy? did they ever bomb lebanon, Syria, Iraq or Bahrain? ever harm us the shias in any way? your stupid propaganda only echoes israel's wishes: to see us turn our backs on our masters, those who helped us kick out the occupiers and regain our shia sovereignty.
07 August 2015, 11:55
35
1) why did the_roar and flame_the_thrower disappear at the same time?
2) why is mowaten posting at 3 and 4 a.m in the morning?
07 August 2015, 15:12
38
i wonder (Guest). They are also known as very bad losers, simple.
07 August 2015, 15:17
37
The starkest part of this all comes from the Russian Ambassador, and this just a few days after the US clearly warned of its Red Lines in Lebanon. If Aoun wants to play reckless brinkmanship, then he may well find himself in his worst predicament ever. We all know that Aoun wants to precipitate Lebanon into the abyss, to save his struggling Hezbollah and secure himself that seat, even if it meant one day left of his miserable life. In 1990, Aoun was also warned by the US not to play with fire, he ignored the call, this time I hope that he will get his arse burnt to ashes. The day that this traitor was born was a very bad day indeed for the Lebanese. May God take him soon.
07 August 2015, 15:31
05
phoenix, no one has ever harmed the lebanese and specifically the Christians as much as this selfish worthless man.
