Naharnet

Report: US Pushes for Strengthening Ties with Lebanon

The US Administration admires Lebanon's policy and its ability to confront terrorism and has therefore encouraged President Donald Trump to strengthen ties with the country, al-Diyar daily reported on Friday.

“The US administration has absolute confidence in Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and in Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, therefore it is unlikely for the US Treasury to impose new sanctions on Lebanon,” a report published in the daily said.

“Prime Minister Saad Hariri will begin a trip to Washington and will be accompanied by Salameh and Army Commander General Aoun,” it said.

“The US leadership has absolute confidence in Aoun and the same goes for the US Treasury which has confidence in Salameh. This makes it unlikely for the US Treasury to impose strict sanctions on Lebanon, particularly that the Department's statement was issued six-month ago without any change until this moment, and the Treasury's statement may have brought sanctions on specific individuals,” added the daily.

“As for Army Commander Aoun, the US leadership at the political and military levels has decided to provide the Lebanese army with assistance after the appointment of the new Army Commander,” it said.

“The Army chief is an excellent soldier who keeps the Lebanese army away from political parties accused by the United States, and recognizes that the army has nothing to do with Iran and that its operations are independent of Hizbullah's operations. There will be an increase in aid at all levels to train the Lebanese army,” it said.

As for Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and “after reviewing reports raised to him about the region, the US President Donald Trump found that Lebanon has succeeded in combating terrorism and that Lebanon's stability is crucial compared to other Arab countries like Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

“Trump is satisfied with the situation in Lebanon and is supportive of the government's policy against terrorism. He wants to maintain stability and will listen to Hariri's views on Lebanon's governance and economic, financial and development policies in the years to come.”

“The US Administration has advised Trump to strengthen ties with Lebanon, so that Lebanon does not have good relations with Russia and Iran. The US administration knows that Lebanon has no strong ties with Russia and that it has no military ties with Iran, and that it has rejected the Iranian military gift to the Lebanese army. Therefore, according to reports raised to Trump, he is satisfied with the government's relationship with Iran and Russia.”

As for Hizbullah, “Trump said that Hizbullah is a political party with representatives in the Lebanese government and parliament and has loyalty to Iran. But, Trump did not stop at this point because he only wants Lebanon to enjoy stability and democracy."

Reports added that “Lebanon is enjoying democracy mainly after the election of President Michel Aoun and the devising of a new electoral law. The US administration has advised Trump to have good ties with Lebanon.”

Source: Naharnet


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