BEIRUT: The Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali, who has been embroiled in a spat with some Lebanese politicians and ministers over their support for Syrian refugees, said Monday he was committed to diplomatic norms in dealing with Lebanese officials.

“Syria is keen on respecting agreements that regulate relations with Lebanon. It wants Lebanon to help in tackling a crisis from which it [Syria] is suffering,” Ali told a local TV station.

Referring to the recent verbal campaigns by Lebanese politicians against him over support for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Ali said he was “committed to the utmost degree to diplomatic norms in dealing with officials in Lebanon.”

He added that those who have slammed the Syrian Embassy’s role in Lebanon must provide evidence against the ambassador.

Ali’s remarks came after some 200 students from the Kataeb Party and National Liberal Party demonstrated near the Syrian Embassy in the Yarze area in Baabda over the weekend to protest against the ambassador’s criticism of Lebanon’s assistance to Syrian refugees.