Al-Akhdar Ibrahimi Meets Lebanese Officials, Assures Syrian Crisis Must be Confined

Local Editor

On his second regional tour, al-Akhdar Ibrahimi, the International Peace Envoy to Syria arrives to Lebanon, warning that Syria's 19-month conflict could unleash and set the entire region ablaze.

"This crisis cannot remain confined within Syrian territory," Brahimi told reporters on Wednesday. "Either it is solved, or it will get worse... and set [the region] ablaze. A truce for Eid al-Adha [the Muslim holiday] would be a microscopic step on the road to solving the Syria crisis," he added.

"The Syrian people, on both sides, are burying some 100 people a day," he said on Wednesday, adding "Can we not ask that this toll falls for this holiday? This will not be a happy holiday for the Syrians, but we should at least strive to make it less sad."

A truce would be a step "towards a more global ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy artillery, a stop to the flow of foreign weapons, and then towards a political solution in Syria, in case both sides cooperate" Ibrahimi said.
During the meeting with the diplomatic troubleshooter, President Suleiman voiced hope that a peaceful solution be found for the Syrian crisis "through dialogue and away from any foreign military intervention."

He also expressed the importance to "resolve the issue of Syrian refugees in a way that allows their return to their homeland after a political solution is found."
The Lebanese president reiterated his country's policy of disassociation from external conflicts.

He also restated the government's commitment to "prevent weapons smuggling and the establishment of a buffer zone [for Syrian rebels]."
For his part, Mikati assured to Ibrahimi that "Lebanon supports [Brahimi's] mission to end the conflict so that the killing and destruction stops and Syria can reclaim its stability,"

House Speaker Nabih Berri too tackled the recent developments in Syria during his meeting with the International Peace Envoy.

On Monday, Ibrahimi called for a temporary ceasefire in Syria during the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday starting on October 26.
During the visit, the UN envoy met with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati before he departed.
Before Lebanon visit, Ibrahimi visited Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Egypt in a bid to implement his proposed ceasefire.

Source: News Agencies, edited by moqawama.org