BEIRUT: A senior U.S. official praised Lebanon’s decision to pay its share to the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon as “a very positive sign” for the international community, saying Wednesday that Washington would support the Lebanese Army to secure its borders with its neighbors.

Jeffrey Feltman, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, also voiced U.S. concerns that the current turmoil in Syria would lead to instability in Lebanon or other countries.

Feltman spoke to reporters after holding talks with Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail. He arrived in the country earlier Wednesday and met with senior officials to discuss the political and security situation in Lebanon, developments in Syria, and other regional issues, according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy.

During the meeting with Mikati also attended by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly, Feltman delivered a letter from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “welcoming Lebanon’s action to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.”

“He noted the importance of Lebanon’s continued cooperation with the tribunal and of Lebanon upholding its international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701,” the statement said.

In her letter to Mikati dated Dec. 5, Clinton welcomed his announcement about transferring $32 million to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, “thus fulfilling Lebanon’s funding obligations to the tribunal for 2011.”

“I appreciate the steps you have taken as prime minister to ensure that Lebanon complies with key international commitments,” she said. “Vigorous implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 1559 and 1701, and full and unequivocal cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, are in Lebanon’s interests and contribute to regional stability.”

“The U.S. government remains committed to an independent and sovereign Lebanon, free of extremist influences,” Clinton said. “We will continue to support this objective, including through our assistance programs, in cooperation with your office and other Lebanese stakeholders.”

Feltman also renewed the United States’ commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon. “Ambassador Feltman underscored the U.S. Administration’s support to strengthening Lebanon and Lebanon’s institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, recognizing its importance in serving as Lebanon’s sole legitimate defense force, securing Lebanon’s borders and defending the sovereignty and independence of the state,” the embassy statement added.

There have been reports about the smuggling of arms and sending fighters from the Lebanese border into Syria to help protesters against the violent crackdown launched by Syrian security forces and reported Syrian incursions into Lebanon to chase Syrian nationals.

Feltman discussed regional developments with Mikati, consulting with him on a range of issues, including the 8-month-old popular uprising in Syria against President Bashar Assad.

“Ambassador Feltman shared the grave concerns of the United States for the people of Syria and our desire to see the Syrian government end its brutality against them immediately,” the statement said. It added that Feltman highlighted “U.S. concerns that developments in Syria not contribute to instability in Lebanon or in other countries in the region.”

Given the sharp split between the rival Lebanese factions on the situation in Syria, there are fears that the turmoil in Syria could spill over into Lebanon. While the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance supports the Assad regime, the opposition March 14 parties have expressed solidarity with Syrian pro-democracy protesters demanding Assad’s ouster.

Speaking to reporters at the Grand Serail, Feltman described his meeting with Mikati as “very good.”

Referring to Mikati’s decision last week to transfer Lebanon’s $32 million share to the STL’s budget, Feltman said this decision was “a very positive sign for all of us as an international community with regard to Lebanon’s continuing and firm respect of international obligations.” He said Mikati’s move was taken on the basis of serving Lebanon’s interest.

The row over the STL’s funding had sharply split the government and put its fate into jeopardy after Mikati threatened to resign if the Cabinet failed to approve the payment of Lebanon’s share to the tribunal. Hezbollah and its March 8 allies reject the STL altogether, let alone funding it.

Feltman said he had asked to meet with President Michel Sleiman but political sources said Sleiman refused to meet him, in a tit-for-tat move after U.S. officials declined to meet with the president when he was in Washington in September.

Feltman said he will meet with Speaker Nabih Berri and officials from the government and the March 14 coalition during his visit. He met Wednesday with former MP Nassib Lahoud, head of the Democratic Renewal Movement.

Feltman, who served as ambassador to Lebanon from 2004-08, praised Arab and international unanimity on imposing sanctions on Syria to force it to halt its violent crackdown on protesters.

He also said that Lebanon’s leadership recognizes Lebanon’s interests regarding events in neighboring Syria.