NNA - A fresh decision by the FIBA Asia Executive Committee to move the 27th Asian Championship from Lebanon to Philippines drew sharp rebuke of Youth and Sports Minister, Faisal Karami, who lambasted Friday the decision as "unfair and harmful to the interests of the Lebanese basketball."



"Unfortunately, the current situation in the region and the on-going civil war in Syria, which has its indirect effect on the countries in the whole of West Asia, especially on Lebanon, creates doubts about the stability that we might not have, at least, till the fixed dates of our event," FIBA Asia secretary general, Hagop Khajirian, has said.



Karami deplored such a pretext, avowing that the Ministry will multiply efforts to consecrate Lebanon's right to host the championship.



"I explained the preparations Lebanon has made on the security and logistic levels to host this championship, during my recent visit in Qatar," he said.


"If Lebanon cannot host the championship, it must be entitled to participate in it," Karami stressed.



It is still unclear if Lebanon is entitled to participate in the championship, since it skipped the eliminations, considering that it is the host country.



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