Geagea: Hizbullah's Policies Must Change to Repel Economic Danger

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed on Saturday that Hizbullah must change its internal and external policies to push away the danger threatening Lebanon’s economy.

“Hizbullah is involved in pushing away the danger threatening Lebanon's economy. It has to introduce radical change to its internal and external policies to meet the interests of the Lebanese as a whole and not precisely its own audience,” said Geagea in a statement.

Pointing out to the latest Hizbullah campaign against the Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh for abiding by the U.S. sanctions law against the party, Geagea said: “The Governor has no alternative but to implement the international laws. Everyone knows that Lebanon's banking system is closely linked to the international monetary system.”

Geagea pointed out that “it is illogical for Hizbullah to hold the governorship of the Central Bank responsible for the consequences of its own deeds.”

He asked: “Are the Lebanese obliged to pay the price of Hizbullah's unilateral policies which the Lebanese people have never agreed on?”

Salameh had assured early in May that the central bank will abide by the restrictions in the Hizbullah International Financing Prevention Act, which was signed into law in December.

The U.S. regulations say Washington will target those "knowingly facilitating a significant transaction or transactions for" Hizbullah or any individual, business or institution linked to the group.