Turkey urges unity in Lebanon

Alarmed at prospects of political instability in Lebanon, which would have regional implications, Ankara yesterday called on Lebanon to keep its unified government. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while on an official visit to Qatar, discussed the developments in Lebanon with Syrian President Bashar Assad during a telephone conversation late on Tuesday. "The parties in Lebanon are invited to consider general interests, to embrace a constructive and responsible method of dialogue, to avoid protests and withdrawal from the government, and to remain committed to the Doha and Taif accords, which are assurances of Lebanon's unity, security and stability," Erdogan and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor said in a joint statement released yesterday. In Ankara, the Saudi and Turkish foreign ministers both warned that the prospect of political instability poses a "great danger" for Lebanon and the region. "If the government resignations materialize, if there is a split... this may lead to a conflict... and this poses a great danger," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. "Lebanon may face the problems it faced before, and this will affect countries in the region."