ANSD : Hariri: Tougher U.S. policy on Hezbollah will spare Lebanon

SAT 27 - 4 - 2024

Date: Jan 25, 2018
Source: The Daily Star

Hariri: Tougher U.S. policy on Hezbollah will spare Lebanon

_{Timour Azhari| The Daily Star}
BEIRUT: Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Wednesday he did not fear that a toughening in U.S. policy toward Hezbollah would have a detrimental impact on Lebanon’s economy. The prime minister’s remarks came during a question and answer session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He said the greatest threat to the country was a possible Israeli invasion. “I’m not worried [about U.S. sanctions on Lebanon] because the U.S. focus is Hezbollah, not the Lebanese people, nor the Lebanese economy,” he told CNBC journalist Hadley Gamble.

His comments came after the U.S. Justice Department recently formed a special investigative team to look into alleged Hezbollah-linked drug networks.

“If [the U.S.] focus is Hezbollah [then] focus on Hezbollah. The Lebanese people are not to blame for the incapability of the region in dealing with a problem much bigger than us. We are part of the problem, I agree, but should Lebanon pay? Would crippling Lebanon’s economy make your policy a better one?”

Despite its myriad crises, Lebanon could face its domestic challenges, Hariri said “because we have the will ... but when Israel decides to launch a war against Lebanon, what can we do? ... I believe that the current administration in Israel does not want peace. We have seen people in Israel that wanted peace.”

Hariri also reiterated the importance of Lebanon’s dissociation policy in ensuring relations between Lebanon and its Arab neighbors was maintained. Hariri had announced his resignation on Nov. 4 from Saudi Arabia, but later went back on it after the policy of dissociating Lebanon from regional conflicts and interference in the affairs of Arab countries was unanimously reaffirmed by Lebanon’s Cabinet in December.

“The only reason I ... went back on my resignation was [because] all political parties ... agreed the dissociation policy is a policy of the Lebanese government and should be respected by all Lebanese,” he said. Hariri has often stressed the importance of the policy, saying he regards it as essential to preserving Lebanon’s stability. “If we think we can meddle, as Lebanese, in the affairs of other nations, we will pay the price,” he said.

Hariri also stated what he said were several of his government’s achievements, including passing a state budget for the first time in 12 years and kick-starting the work of state institutions.

Commenting on Lebanon’s refugee crisis, he said he understood there was “fatigue” on the issue in the West. “That is very sad,” he said, “but we take it upon ourselves in Lebanon to do a public service for the international community. We are hosting 1.5 million refugees, and need to see how to sustain that.”

A donor conference expected to hand out financial support for countries hosting refugees is set to be held in Brussels later this year. The event will follow up on last year’s Brussels conference and the London conference in 2016, focusing on international support for those affected by the Syrian crisis and host countries.

The premier went on to laud what he said were important social reforms in Saudi Arabia stewarded by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. “I never thought I would see this in KSA,” he said. “I have always wished for it but now I see it happening and this is something extremely energetic and good for the region.”

He said Lebanon in the past had relied on Saudi Arabia and the UAE for support but affirmed, “we don’t want donations, we want people to come invest in Lebanon, we want to build a real partnership with our Arab [neighbors].”

Hariri added that he saw Europe as a model for the close complementary relationship between nations that he envisioned.

When asked what he thought of criticism of Saudi foreign policy, particularly with regards to their protracted war in Yemen, Hariri said there would always be criticism, but “the important thing is not to make mistakes again and again.”

Commenting on upcoming parliamentary elections, Hariri said 30 percent of the candidates running for his Future Movement would be women.

“I really believe, if you let women run the show, it will be much more stable, and much better for Lebanon,” he said.

The question session came after a long day of meetings by Hariri with over a dozen world leaders and high-level officials.

The premier had earlier announced he intends to visit Jordan to “coordinate with the Jordanian state on the issue of the displaced,” after meeting Jordan’s King Abdullah II. “I have received great support from His Majesty [King Abdullah] for Lebanon ... on the issue of displaced persons and other [issues],” Hariri said, according to a statement. It added that the scheduled visit will take place before the Brussels conference.

He also met his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni to talk about the preparations for the upcoming Rome II conference to bolster support for the Lebanese security services. The Rome II conference is one of two donor conferences for Lebanon slated for early 2018.

Hariri also visited the residence of Swiss President Alain Berset and discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the Middle East region, as well as Swiss-Lebanese bilateral relations.

The premier held a meeting on Paris IV that will aim to boost the economy with the International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and invited her to attend. Hariri briefed Lagarde on the final steps to be taken on an investment program to be presented at the conference.

Later Wednesday, Hariri met with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, reportedly discussing preparations for Rome II, the Paris IV and the Brussels Conference.

Hariri also met with Brazilian President Michel Temer, discussing the conferences. According to a statement from Hariri’s office, the prime minister said the two nation’s close relations, given Brazil’s president is of Lebanese descent, should be “consolidated.” Brazil is estimated to have 6-7 million citizens of full or partial Lebanese descent.

Hariri said he had invited Temer to Lebanon, adding that the Paris conference would be an opportunity for Brazil to increase its private-sector dealings in Lebanon’s economy - such as in the electricity sector.

The premier then met with Lebanese businessmen participating in the WEF, briefing them on Lebanon’s investment program and “urged them to participate,” the statement said.

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