BEIRUT, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese forces' Strong Republic bloc said Monday that it will not accept a ministerial statement that contains a stance supporting the Syrian regime, the National News Agency reported.
"How can Lebanon normalize ties with a regime that is not yet accepted by its own people?" asked Wehbe Katisha, a parliamentary member.
Katisha, who belongs to the Strong Republic bloc, slammed Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil for working in favor of returning Syria to the Arab League.
"Lebanon should adopt a neutral stance in the ministerial statement when it comes to the relation of Arab countries among each other," Katisha said while adding that Lebanon should not be involved in regional conflicts.
Although Lebanon has not cut diplomatic or trade ties with Syria, it has kept relations at "arm's length" avoiding official contacts with the Syrian government.
Lebanon has also kept itself away from regional conflicts after the Syria war broke out in 2012.
But some political parties in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Amal movement, and Free Patriotic Movement, have been pushing the government into normalizing ties with Syria in a bid to solve the issue of refugees and their safe return to Syria.
However, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri previously said that he refuses to visit Syria or meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, under any circumstances, even if that would cost him his position.
Hariri has been a long-time supporter of the Syrian opposition and has often been outspoken about his desire to see Assad removed from power.
