Khalil Says U.S. Committed to Supporting Lebanon, Must Respect 'Special Makeup'
Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil has said that U.S. officials are committed to supporting Lebanon as he launched a visit to Washington for talks on combating financing of terrorism.
“Officials at the Treasury and diplomats have expressed commitment to backing Lebanon,” Khalil told al-Joumhouria daily in remarks published on Wednesday.
The U.S. officials have confirmed to Khalil that measures taken by the U.S. authorities do not target certain Lebanese sides, mainly the Shiite sect, said the minister, who is a member of the Amal Movement that is led by Speaker Nabih Berri and is allied with Hizbullah.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, Khalil told Treasury officials that it was important for Washington to take into consideration “Lebanon’s special political makeup” when making decisions concerning the country.
During his Washington visit, Khalil also met with Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Anne Patterson.
The diplomat assured the minister that the U.S. is exerting efforts with the Gulf Cooperation Council, in particular Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to review their recent decisions that have targeted Lebanon.
The GCC recently considered Hizbullah a terrorist organization after Riyadh announced a $4 billion cut in aid for Lebanon's army and security forces.
The Gulf states have also issued travel warnings to Lebanon and began expelling Lebanese expats.
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