NNA - Caretaker Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister, Adnan Mansour, on Tuesday left to Geneva to take part in Geneva 2 talks on the seething Syrian crisis set to kick off tomorrow.



Mansour, who is heading a ranking delegation of Lebanese politicians and diplomats, delivered a statement prior to his departure in which he pinned great hopes on a swift solution to the Syrian calamity.



"The Lebanese have supported a political solution right from the start, but it is up to the Syrian people to decide their destiny," said Mansour, noting that foreign interference in internal Syrian affairs has only shrouded the situation in more complications.



"Looking at Lebanon's close and historical ties with Syria, Lebanon is doomed to be involved in Syria's developments, that's why we find ourselves concerned about different matters involving Syria's stability and security, which directly influence the Lebanese scene," said Mansour.



He also pointed to Lebanon's concern regarding the growing wave of terrorism hitting different regions in Lebanon.



"We will bring this matter up in a bid to garner international support in the face of such terrorist acts," the minister said, mentioning as well an intention to bring up the economic, political, and security burdens which have gravely increased with the ever-growing number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.



"Geneva 2 is of paramount importance. We hope it will succeed in its endeavours to end the three-year-old Syrian unrest," he added.



Responding to a question, Mansour asserted that President Michel Sleiman was fully aware of the content of the message to be delivered by Lebanon at the conference.



"The Lebanese state enjoys a united policy," he said.



Asked whether he will be bringing up Lebanon's decision to dissociate itself from Syria developments, the Minister asserted attachment to this policy "provided that events dissociate themselves from Lebanon."



Mansour also noted that the Lebanese delegation would be meeting with many Arab and international officials at the sidelines of Geneva 2 conference.



As for the United Nations Secretary General's withdrawal of Iran's invitation to partake in Geneva 2, the Minister disliked the fact that Iran was being kept away from such important talks.



"Every country has its own function and influence. Iran shouldn't be distanced from the conference discussions, just like Saudi Arabia shouldn't be kept away," he added.



Mansour, responding to a question on the extent of coordination between the Syrian and Lebanese stance at the conference table, he said, "contacts have been ongoing with Moallem [Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Moallem], and have never stopped all throughout the Syrian crisis. We always exchange view points and meet on different occasions."


==============R.H.