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The US administration warned the leader of the “national tendency” before punishing him
A US State Department official confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that his country would use “all the powers it has to hold accountable Lebanese leaders who put their personal interests before the interests of the Lebanese people,” while the president Lebanese Michel Aoun asked the US authorities to provide “evidence” on the charges brought by Washington. His son-in-law, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, and sanctions were imposed.
“Al-Sharq al-Awsat” learned that the US authorities issued a “warning” to Gebran Bassil before rejecting the sanctions against him, and asked him to “change his behavior”.
The US diplomat flatly denied that the sanctions are linked to the formation of the government in Lebanon. He said: “We are not targeting a specific group, party or sect, but corruption. Many Lebanese officials act as if they have the luxury of time, but this is not true. The time to act has come and Lebanese leaders must respond to the demands of the Lebanese people and implement the necessary reforms immediately and root out rampant corruption.
And if sanctions against others not associated with Hezbollah can be expected, the US official said: “Lebanese leaders must work in the national interest to ensure that all segments of Lebanese society are protected from corruption and terrorism. We will use all the powers we have to hold accountable Lebanese leaders, who put their personal interests before the interests of the Lebanese people.
On the Lebanese front, the US decision reacted strongly. The President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, asked Foreign Minister Charbel Wahba to “make the necessary contacts with the US embassy in Beirut and the Lebanese embassy in Washington, to obtain the evidence and documents that led the United States Treasury to file charges. and impose sanctions against Bassil. ” Emphasizing that these evidences must be delivered to the Lebanese Judicial Power in order for it to take the necessary legal measures to do so, noting that it will directly monitor this case, giving rise to the necessary trials in the event that data is available on these accusations .
The US sanctions imposed on Bassil and their repercussions at home overshadowed all other problems in Lebanon, especially the formation of the government, and political consultations were on forced leave until next week. While confusion appears to prevail in the situation, especially in terms of how this decision will be reflected in the authorship process, sources familiar with the communications told Asharq Al-Awsat that no new developments were recorded on the inquiry line yesterday.
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