U.S. Diplomat Thomas Shannon in an 'Assessment' Visit to Beirut

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon is expected to arrive in Beirut on Thursday to assess the arrangements made by Lebanon as for the implementation of the U.S. financial sanctions against Hizbullah and other laws dedicated to eradicating the resources of “terrorist organizations”, as described by the U.S. administration, in Lebanon and the region, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

Well-informed sources told the daily that Shannon will also hold meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, the economist adviser at the Presidency in charge of follow-up on the actions of “the international community to help Lebanon” on behalf of Prime Minister Tammam Salam, the Central Bank Governor, members of the Association of Banks and will visit the Defense Ministry, added the daily.

The sources, who participated in the preparation for the visit, said that Shannon has canceled a planned visit to Lebanon and the region in March after he met with a delegation of the Association of Banks in Lebanon and a parliamentary delegation who visited Washington in February to review with officials in the U.S. Treasury Department the sanctions law.

Shannon will therefore follow-up on the latest financial measures implemented by the Central Bank and the Lebanese banks in application of the U.S. decision. He will also stand at the financial and economic needs of Lebanon to face the burden of Syrian refugees and the needs of the military and security institutions in the face of terrorism.

The visit also will be an occasion to discuss the reasons for the postponement of a conference on the International Support Group for Lebanon which was scheduled to be held at the end of September at the United Nations.

Accordingly, the sources denied links between the visit and prospects of launching a new list of names to be included in the financial sanctions as anticipated by banking officials.

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.

Those under sanctions include Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and slain top commander Mustafa Badreddine as well as some businessmen. The list also includes the group's al-Manar TV and al-Nour Radio.