Shorter Hopes Russian Meddling in Syria Won't Affect Lebanon's Presidential Polls

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter hinted on Friday that the Russian interference in Syria could make choosing a new Lebanese head of state more difficult.

"We are concerned about the effect of the Russian intervention in Syria on Lebanon. But so far it is still not clear how that would affect the internal dynamics," Shorter told An Nahar daily in an interview.

"I hope it would not make the agreement on a president more difficult," he added.

Russia says its intervention is aimed at helping the Syrian government defeat the Islamic State group, but local activists and U.S. officials say the strikes have also targeted Western-backed rebels.

On the burden of the Syrian refugees on Lebanon, Shorter said: “It would be harder for Lebanon to be a full international partner in the response to the crisis without a president, which is one of the major reasons that compel Lebanon to have a functioning president and government.”

Lebanon is hosting around 1.5 million refugees since the war broke out in the neighboring country in 2011.

Asked whether regional interferences have affected the failure of the Lebanese to elect a new head of state, the ambassador said: “There is a general feeling that the regional players have an interest in what is happening in Lebanon. The Lebanese parties also have a close relation with these regional groups. It is up to the Lebanese to shoulder responsibility.”

Nevertheless, the ambassador hailed the efforts of Speaker Nabih Berri for bringing the rival politicians together for a national dialogue.

On the protests of the civil society that were triggered by the trash management crisis, Shorter said: “the Lebanese people have the right to carry out peaceful demonstrations and to express their points of view regarding the government similar to other countries.”

“This is a normal part of democratic life. Everyone can see how the trash is piling up on the streets,” he added.

D.A.

G.K.