BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour reiterated Sunday his government’s rejection of interference in the affairs of its neighbor Syria during talks with President Bashar Assad.

“Lebanon rejects attempts of foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs,” Mansour, who met Assad in Damascus, was quoted as saying by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

“The stability of Lebanon stems from the stability of Syria,” he said, adding that “what brings together [Lebanon and Syria] is more than relations between two neighboring countries but by virtue of their historical, cultural and sisterly relations.”

Mansour and President Bashar Assad discussed bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria and ways of developing these ties between the two countries, reported the National News Agency.

The meeting, which was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallen, Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali and Syrian presidential spokeswoman Bouthaina Shabaan, also turned to Lebanese affairs since the formation of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Najib Mikati as well the situation in Syria, according to SANA.

“Syria is on the path to reform ...To deal with outlaws who cut off roads, seal towns and terrorize residents is a duty of the state which must defend security and protect the lives of civilians,” SANA quoted Assad as saying.

Earlier Sunday, Mansour defended his government’s disassociation with a U.N. Security Council statement last week condemning the violence in Syria, adding that the decision did not imply a confrontation with the international community.

“Lebanon’s position at the [U.N.] Security Council toward events in Syria stems from its convictions of the historic and [sisterly] relations [with Syria] and shared interests between the two countries,” Mansour told a local radio station.

“The decision was a positive one because we cannot go along with a decision that condemns Syria or one that opposes it. Since independence, we, until today, have taken a positive policy toward [sisterly states], particularly Syria.”

Lebanese lawmakers and public figures have been voicing mixed reactions over Lebanon’s decision Wednesday to distance itself from a U.N. Security Council statement condemning the violence in Syria.

Opposition and human rights groups say over 1,600 civilians have been killed in a deadly crackdown launched by Assad in March when protests began. Damascus blames “terrorist gangs” for the civilian deaths and says the unrest in his country is part of a conspiracy.

While members of the March 8 alliance have defended Lebanon’s position, saying it was based on the Cabinet’s policy not to intervene in Syria’s internal affairs, member of the rival March 14 coalition in the opposition have described it as shameful, saying that the country had failed to voice support for human rights.

Referring to Lebanese casting doubts on the country’s foreign policy, Mansour said: “When Lebanon chose to distance itself from the statement condemning Syria, it did not do any harm to either of the two countries and we did not go along with it because it dealt with condemning the Syrian regime.”

“Lebanon’s stance does not imply any confrontation with the international community,” he added.