Beirut: Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon reiterated Sunday his country’s rejection of new Lebanese entry restrictions that went into effect last week.

“I cannot find a justification to what is happening today, and the logic says that the decision should not be enforced,” Ali Abdel-Karim Ali said in a television interview.

He repeated his hopes that the measures, which require all Syrians attempting to enter Lebanon to secure one of six visa-like permits, would not cause an “escalation” in bad relations.

His remarks come after Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas on Friday defended the move, saying that it did not violate any treaty between the two countries.

The entry permit rules went into effect on Monday, upon a decision by the Interior Ministry and General Security.