Mansour: I Defend Lebanon’s Interests, Diplomatic Norms Rule Relations with Diplomats

Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour stressed Thursday that "despite the division in the Lebanese arena, there is a united official governmental position represented by dissociating Lebanon from the Syrian crisis."

In remarks to "as-Safir" Lebanese daily, Mansour highlighted that "the Lebanese position is also based on abstaining from intervening in the Syrian internal affairs."

On the difficulties that Lebanon might face in imposing its point of view on the Arab countries for being a small nation, he said: "There are no major and minor countries."

"There are states that have opinion and Lebanon can reconcile between the Arab states and play the linking role to overcome the obstacles, especially as it was not a side in the conflicts," the minister added.

In parallel, Mansour responded to March 14 accusations that he was defending Syria more than defending Lebanon. "I only defend Lebanon and its interests as well as its policies as stated by the government. The claims that I defend Syria more than I defend Lebanon do not reflect the truth," he told "as-Safir".

On March 14's protests to expel the Syrian ambassador to Lebanon, Mansour stated that "it is time to deal with such issues wisely and objectively."

"We can't every now and then call for expelling a certain ambassador or recalling another. There are protocols, agreements and international treaties that govern actions when dealing with diplomats," he emphasized.

In another context, the head of Lebanon's diplomacy revealed that he witnessed a great positivity from the Mauritanian officials, particularly the President, the Prime Minister, and the Foreign Minister, in providing all the necessary help in the issue of the disappearance of Imam Moussa al-Sadr.

"I met with Abdullah al-Senussi, Moammar Qaddafi's former spy chief, for four and a half hours. We are still adopting a policy not to engage in details regarding this case until we reach a final result," he added.

Mansour further noted to future movements that the government might take on this level.

Source: as-Safir, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org