Miqati Hopes Brahimi Succeeds in 'Halting Killing Machine in Syria'

Prime Minister Najib Miqati hoped on Wednesday that visiting United Nations and Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi would succeed in his mission to end the crisis in the neighboring country.

He told the envoy that Lebanon supports his mission “to end the killing and destruction in Syria.”

He made his remarks to Brahimi during talks at the Grand Serail.

The premier hoped that a “political solution that appeases the Syrian people will be reached.”

“The Lebanese government is committed to its policy of disassociation that it has adopted since the beginning of the crisis,” Miqati added.

The premier attributed the commitment to the policy to the “Lebanese internal divisions over the Syrian crisis, the historic, geographic, and economic ties with Syria, and Lebanon's ties to the Arab world.”

“Time had demonstrated that this policy, which was criticized by some, has enjoyed agreement on the Arab and international scenes,” declared the premier.

“The disassociation policy has led to stability in Lebanon and helped protect it from the repercussions of the Syrian crisis,” he added.

Commenting on the flow of Syrian refugees to Lebanon, he said that Lebanon has been performing its duties towards them, “but the ongoing influx requires greater Arab, international, and humanitarian support.”

“Lebanon is no longer able to support more burdens,” he explained.

Brahimi was in Lebanon on Wednesday where he held talks on the Syrian crisis with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, and Miqati.

Brahimi's visit is part of his regional tour that included Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Egypt in a bid to implement a proposed ceasefire for the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday that lands on October 26.