Mikati meets Ban and Saudi deputy FM

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of his participation in the United Nations General Assembly meetings. The meeting touched on the political situation in Lebanon in addition to the Syrian crisis and its repercussions on neighboring countries. Ban commended the dissociation policy adopted by the Lebanese government and the current national dialogue undertaken under the patronage of President Michel Suleiman. He also said stability in south Lebanon is a crucial matter, Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported. The UN Secretary General described the anti-Islam film as “insult to religions,” stressing that violent reactions to it are “utterly unjustified.” Mikati, for his part, stressed Lebanon’s respect of UN charter and commitment to international resolutions. “My objective is to cast Lebanon away from what is currently taking place in the region and maintain its immunity so that it won’t be affected by the repercussions of situation in Syria” said the Lebanese prime minister. Mikati also met with Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, who heads the Saudi delegation to the UNGA.