Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29
By Umid Niayesh, Saeed Isayev - Trend:
The continuing crisis and instability in Syria are serious threats against the security and stability of Lebanon, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said, Iranian IRNA news agency reported on Jan. 29.
Shamkhani made the remarks during a meeting with the head of the Druze Lebanese Democratic Party, Emir Talal Arslan in Tehran on Jan. 29.
He also criticized extremist groups which threaten the Lebanese society's security.
Shamkhani appreciated leaders and people of Lebanon "due to their obligation to the resistance movement."
Arslan, for his part, underlined the political, cultural and social commonalities between Iran and Lebanon.
He also informed Shamkhani about the latest security developments in Lebanon, and said that Lebanon will not permit extremist groups to carry out their goals in the country.
During the conflict in Syria which began in March 2011, more than 115,000 people were killed in the country and over 4.2 million became refugees in Syrian territory and two million fled to neighbouring countries. The main burden of receiving refugees lay on Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The total population of Syria before the conflict amounted to 20 million.