BEIRUT: Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, who has come under harsh criticism by March 14 politicians over his position at the Arab League’s meetings on Damascus, defended Monday Lebanon’s policy to dissociate itself from the 10-month unrest in Syria.“The dissociation policy is not a Lebanese innovation and does not mean a no-stance, but not forcing Lebanon to comply with the adopted position,” Mansour told a delegation from the Journalists’ Union.

“Lebanon is a special case. It does not support or oppose any decision taken by the Arab League. Lebanon’s special relations with Syria make us take the decision which is good for Lebanon’s interest in the first place, and for the special relations between Lebanon and Syria by virtue of the geographical, historical, family, commercial and economic situation. Whether we like it or not, we have to take all these matters into consideration,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Mansour said during an Arab League meeting in Cairo that a League initiative aimed at resolving the crisis in Syria was “unbalanced.” The initiative called for embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad to hand over power to his vice president and the formation of a national unity government. Syria has categorically rejected the initiative.

Mansour’s remarks drew harsh criticism from March 14 politicians and also from Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, who said the foreign minister must remain silent at Arab League meetings. Jumblatt said that Mansour should “stick to the disassociation policy for now to prevent further undermining of Lebanon’s credibility,” in reference to Lebanon’s policy of disassociating itself from the turmoil in Syria. Mansour later hit back at Jumblatt, saying he did not need lessons from anyone.

In his meeting with the journalists’ delegation, Mansour noted that despite the differences in the ruling political systems of Lebanon and Syria, the two countries’ security and stability are intertwined.

“Lebanon’s system is sectarian while Syria’s is secular. In Syria, there is a one-party system, while in Lebanon there is a plurality of parties. In Syria, there is a presidential system, while in Lebanon there is a parliamentary system,” Mansour said, adding: “Therefore, there is a difference in the ruling systems. But our common denominator is security and stability. Here lies our supreme interest regardless of those who do not want relations with Syria for personal reasons.

“Whether we like it or not, we are affected by what is happening around us. If we close our border with Syria, who will lose? We will in the first place. Ninety percent of our external trade to the Gulf is exported by land via the Syrian gate,” Mansour said.

He added that the unstable situation in Syria adversely affects Lebanon, while stability in the neighboring country leaves positive effects. “These are facts that cannot be ignored, no matter what the political opinions are,” he said.

He said 95 percent of diplomatic corps appointments have been accomplished and are waiting to be approved by the Cabinet.