UN warns of Syria spillover in Lebanon

Amid increasing violence and tension in the country, the UN Security Council has warned against attempts to threaten the security and stability of Lebanon, as a result of the 17-month long conflict in Syria. This warning came within the UN Security Council resolution to renew the mandate of the peacekeeping force of the United Nations in Lebanon. The force includes 11,500 soldiers stationed at Hezbollah's stronghold in the south, to ensure that there are no military operations on the border with Israel. The Security Council resolution condemned "all attempts to threaten the security and stability in Lebanon," confirming its determination to "ensure that such threatening acts will not prevent the peacekeeping force of the United Nations in Lebanon to do its duty." The British Ambassador in Lebanon, Tom Fletcher, said: "We and our partners at the international level believe that as the situation gets worse in Syria, the regime will create chaos and lack of stability in Lebanon." Fletcher met former president Amine Gemayel at his residence in Bikfaya to review the situation in Lebanon and the region. The meeting that discussed "the means to protect Lebanon from the escalating crisis in Syria”, was attended by Deputy Kataeb official Samy Gemayel, and political and media affairs official at the British Embassy Angela Solomon, and Chairman of the Board of the media in the Kataeb party, George Yazbek. The British ambassador said after the meeting: "I had constructive talks with Kataeb president Gemayel; I welcome the role that he plays on the national level, which protected Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian crisis, and maintained communication through the national dialogue." Fletcher added: "We discussed the possible ways to promote a strong economy in Lebanon in general, and in the city of Tripoli in particular.It is trying to get out of the crisis with the need to overcome this stage." "We believe as well as our partners on the international level that as the situation in Syria gets worse, the regime will create chaos and instability in Lebanon and our response is clear as the interests of Lebanon comes before any other considerations.