Jabaq to 'Visit' Washington: International Organizations Recognized I Don’t Belong to Hizbullah

Health Minister Jamil Jabaq asserted that international organizations and donors have realized through his work since taking office, that he does not belong to Hizbullah although the party called him to participate in the government, the Kuwaiti al-Rai newspaper reported on Friday.

“The health ministry is a ministry responsible for providing services and its minister is not affiliated to any political party,” Jabaq told the daily in an interview.

He added: “This has encouraged the development of relations with the European International Group and the World Bank which provided Lebanon with a soft loan worth $150 million and met with me personally about three times. We have developed a strategic plan to implement the terms of the contract and I will have a visit to the World Bank in Washington soon.”

Jabaq fills one of three Cabinet seats allocated for Hizbullah party which is subject to US sanctions.

This is the first time that Hizbullah allocates the health portfolio which has one of the largest budgets in Lebanon’s government.

On the other hand, Jabaq revealed in his interview, his first with a media outlet since he took office, the fact that he was referred to as the personal physician of Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

“I wish I am,” he said, noting that individuals very close to Nasrallah visit him as physician.