Kassar Calls on Maintaining Ties with GCC to Avert Economic Slowdown
Head of the Economic Committees Adnan Kassar stressed on Thursday the importance of preserving the ties between Lebanon and the Gulf states a day after the Gulf Cooperation Council expressed concern over the situation in the country.
“Any decision taken by the Gulf countries will have negative repercussions on Lebanon's economy and will affect the Lebanese expats in those countries,” Kassar said after holding talks with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace.
On Tuesday, the GCC expressed “great concern” over the government's failure to abide by the Baabda Declaration.
The Baabda Declaration was sponsored by Suleiman and calls for different parties to adhere to the disassociation policy to avoid the spread of the unrest in Syria to Lebanese territories.
Media reports said the deteriorating ties will affect the interests of Lebanon in GCC states including the conditions of around 600,000 expatriates in the Gulf.
Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while the March 14 camp backs the popular revolt.
Concerning the upcoming parliamentary elections, Kassar urged officials to carry out the polls according to the constitutional timeframe based on a balanced electoral law that has the consensus of all parties.
The main political parties in the country have failed to reach common ground on an electoral law, prompting Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati to sign an electoral decree setting elections on June 9 based on the 1960 law of the winner-takes-all system.
The decision angered several parties that stressed the importance of reaching an agreement over the matter.
“The political spat should end and the security chaos should be controlled to maintain stability,” Kassar told reporters.
He called on giving the security forces the green light to fortify security across the country and end kidnapping-for-ransom phenomena that negatively affects the country's reputation.
Lebanon has lately witnessed a fragile security situation.
Kassar said that Suleiman stressed that stability in the country is a red line and offenders don't enjoy any political cover.
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