Burns in Beirut on Thursday to Discuss Syrian Crisis

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns is expected to discuss with Lebanese officials this week the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, An Nahar daily reported on Tuesday.

Burns arrives in Beirut on a two-day visit on Thursday and is scheduled to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri, Premier Najib Miqati, al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora and Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji, a high-ranking source told the newspaper.

The diplomat won’t be able to meet with President Michel Suleiman who is scheduled to travel to France on Thursday on an official visit, the source said.

Burns will stress in his discussions the importance of consolidating the political and security situation in Lebanon to prevent the spread of the “contagion” of the gunbattles rattling Syria since the eruption of the revolution against President Bashar Assad in March 2011, An Nahar said.

He will also stress his country’s rejection of violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty in the North and East after several security incidents and infiltrations of Syrian troops inflicted casualties in the country, it said.

The U.S. is wary of assassination attempts against Lebanese officials, Burns is expected to tell the politicians he is scheduled to meet with, An Nahar added.

His visit to Beirut is part of a Middle East tour that includes stops in Israel, the West Bank, Egypt and Yemen.