Lebanon's PM urges political parties to stay clear of regional conflicts

BEIRUT, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday called on Lebanese political parties to stay clear of regional conflicts.

"I reiterate the necessity of committing to the policy of dissociation and the necessity of maintaining our relations with our brotherly Arab nations," Hariri said after laying the foundation stone of the new embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"Lebanon must keep out of Arab conflicts. We are in favor of Arab unity and we hope that Lebanon can serve as a platform for business and tourism," he said.

Hariri praised the UAE for standing by Lebanon's side and supporting Lebanon's stability.

For his part, UAE Ambassador to Lebanon Hamad al-Shamsi expressed the Gulf state's commitment to supporting Lebanon.

"We support Lebanon and consider it an inseparable part of the Gulf and Arab countries," Shamsi said, adding that the UAE will work for the interests of Lebanon and its people. Enditem