BEIRUT: The head of the Economic Committees Adnan Kassar warned Monday that the recent kidnapping of two Turkish Airlines pilots in Beirut threatened ties between Ankara and Beirut.
“These acts [of kidnapping] are rejected ... because they in no way represent the traditions of the Lebanese and pose a danger to Lebanese-Turkish ties given that it places Lebanon and its airport under international scrutiny and given the sensitivity of the location that the kidnapping took place,” Kassar said, according to the National News Agency.
The NNA said Kassar discussed the Friday abduction of pilot Murat Akpinar and his co-pilot Murat Agca in a telephone conversation with Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon Inan Ozyildiz.
Kassar, according to the state-run agency, also called for the pilots’ speedy release and urged authorities to deploy throughout the country “to put an end to the security chaos” and the growing number of kidnappings in the country.
Kassar also urged officials and President Michel Sleiman to “exert all efforts, with all concerned sides, to end the tragedy of Lebanese hostages in Azaz [Syria] because it is not right that there be no solution even after a year and a half.”
He expressed his solidarity with relatives of the Lebanese hostages and their “righteous cause.”
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12/08/2013
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