Hariri Meets Ryan, Issa, Says Trying to Protect Lebanon from Hizbullah Sanctions

Prime Minister Saad Hariri started a long day at the American Congress Thursday by meeting House Speaker Paul Ryan at his office on Capitol Hill.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, the Charge d’affaires of the Lebanese Embassy in Washington Carla Jazzar, Hariri’s Chief of Staff Nader Hariri, his adviser for U.S. affairs Ambassador Amal Mudallali and Ryan's national security adviser Jeff Dressler.

“The meeting with the U.S. Speaker was very good. We invited him to visit Lebanon to see the efforts we are exerting to fight terrorism, and to get informed about the humanitarian situation of the refugees. Our whole focus during this visit is on the refugees and security,” Hariri said after the meeting.

“Here in Congress we are discussing the decisions being prepared on Lebanon. We are discussing ways to protect Lebanon from these sanctions and we hope to convince them,” the premier added.

Asked whether there is any possibility to change these decisions or proposed draft laws against Hizbullah, Hariri said: “Our duty is to protect Lebanon. Hizbullah is already on the terrorism list in the United States and we have to protect the Lebanese banks and the Lebanese people from any broad decision that affects the people who have bank accounts because this will affect the Lebanese economy.”

Told that the sanctions will hit anyone who cooperates with Hizbullah, the premier said: “We are trying to make the issue more specific so it will not hurt the Lebanese.”

As for the situation in Arsal in the wake of Hizbullah's operation to oust al-Nusra Front from the region, Hariri said: “We want what is happening in Arsal to end, and I think that no one in the Lebanese state wants to have any kind of terrorism in Arsal's outskirts. The best way is for them to return to their country.”

Answering a question about the U.S. stance on Hizbullah, Hariri said “we have to protect Lebanon from any repercussions.”

“What is important for me is to protect the Lebanese institutions and the Lebanese people and maintain the aid to the Lebanese Army which was very useful in fighting terrorism. We have to focus on this issue. As for Hizbullah, the American position is known and not new,” he added.

Asked whether he is relieved regarding the U.S. stance in light of his meetings in Washington, Hariri said he is “reassured.”

Later on Thursday, Hariri met with Republican U.S. Representative for California Darrell Issa, who is of Lebanese origins, in the presence of members of the Lebanese American friendship committee.

Describing the meeting as “important,” Hariri noted that the new sanctions draft bill has “taken into consideration” that the measures should be targeted and not broad.

Asked whether the draft bill is amendable, Hariri said, “God willing.”