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Yesterday, the US ambassador increased her level of pressure on Hariri, saying that her country “wants to prevent the failure of the state in Lebanon, and this matter should be the top priority, but we really can’t want that more than they do. wish “. At the same time, he confirmed, according to the agency “Reuters”, that “there are no rescue plans for Lebanon without reforms”, adding: “We have gained experience.” There will be a gradual step-by-step approach and nothing is free. “Donors must stand by, Xia said. Otherwise, the political elite will not take them seriously. He added:” If they don’t feel the importance of time to form a government How can we keep pushing them? “They look at us and their condition says:” Try to get us to implement a reform, it will be interesting to see them try. “
Shia’s words seem to repeat the position of his Foreign Minister, Mike Pompeo, who announced on his visit to Lebanon in March 2019, and put it as a single objective, which is to attack and isolate Hezbollah. Since then, the Americans have camouflaged the goal of removing Hezbollah from government with the words “reforms.” Pompeo repeated this more than once this year.
It is clear that the French side is with the Americans in their policies, through the two parties agreeing to take responsibility for delaying the formation of the Bassil government, saying that it is the obstacle that prevents the formation of the government from seeing the light. .
In recent days, the rise in the level of threats between the United States and France coincided with the return of the US dollar against the pound. This change in the lira exchange rate has become a clear “game” whose aim is to present Hariri as the only political savior, and to pressure his opponents and co-authors, to hold them accountable for the deterioration of the exchange rate.
The Russian foreign minister’s visit was not canceled, but was postponed due to complications from the formation of the government.
On the other hand, Russia called on (Ahmed Haj Ali) Hariri to negotiate with all parliamentary blocs, without excluding any party, even those who did not name him during the parliamentary consultations that took place in the Baabda Palace. According to sources familiar with the ongoing diplomatic communication between the Russian side and the Lebanese parties, Moscow is pressing for “the start of a comprehensive Lebanese national dialogue without foreign interference, so that this contributes to the formation of the expected government as soon as possible.” The Russian invitation to Hariri, in consultation with the various parties represented in Parliament, particularly concerns the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil. Al-Akhbar learned that “Russian communication with Hariri and Bassil continues to move in this direction”, noting that the Russian ambassador, Alexander Rudakov, is active in terms of protocol and political visits that include various political, partisan and religious references. in Beirut, on the basis of “Russia’s willingness to continue its historic friendship with Lebanon.” In all their spectra, even with those who do not agree with Moscow in their positions with them and do not share the same vision with them regarding the political files that concern the region. And based on what Rudakov had gleaned from his tours, he provided his country’s Foreign Ministry with “detailed reports on the results of his tour, most of which yielded a positive assessment, which can be interpreted as a Lebanese response to the Russian proposal “.
In parallel, informed sources told Al-Akhbar that the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Lebanon was not removed from the agenda, but was postponed until the right conditions were in place. Sources believe that the formation of the expected government will be a decisive factor in determining the date of the Russian foreign minister’s visit. On the basis of the contacts exchanged between the Russian Foreign Ministry and some Lebanese parties related to the course of the formation of the government, informed circles believe that “the issue of authorship after an agreement on names is possible before from the end of this year. Therefore, Lavrov’s visit will also be possible before the end of the year.
US Ambassador: No Bailout Plans for Lebanon Without “Reforms”
On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia issued a statement in which it summarized the meeting of the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Special Envoy of the President of Russia for the Middle East and North Africa, Mr. Mikhail Bogdanov, who met yesterday with the Ambassador of Lebanon Shawky Bounsar. The statement included Bogdanov’s assertion, “Russia’s permanent support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and the need to solve all the problems on the national agenda by the Lebanese themselves without any outside interference.” . The Russian Foreign Ministry hoped “to complete the process of forming a new and effective government in the near future.” However, the contacts of both those responsible for the Russian file of the Hariri team and Bassil with Bogdanov, according to the sources, indicate that “the doors remain closed between the two parties.” On the other hand, the statement spoke of “an in-depth exchange of views on Middle East issues, with a focus on the evolution of the situation in and around Lebanon, in addition to the issue of the return of displaced Syrians and Syrians. Results of the recent Damascus conference. ” Al-Akhbar learned that the Russian Foreign Ministry’s assessment of the IDP return conference in terms of Lebanon’s participation was positive. However, “the results did not live up to expectations due to the obstruction of the mechanisms for the return of displaced persons by the Western and Gulf states and the financing of this path”.
Exempting Lebanese Students In Russia From Tuition Fees?
The issue of restrictions on Lebanese wishing to travel to Russia, including students studying at institutes and universities there, was the subject of discussion between the Lebanese ambassador in Moscow, Shawky Bounsar, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and the special envoy of the Russian president for the Middle East and North Africa, Mikhael. Bogdanov. Bounsar recalled the request of the Lebanese Embassy, through several official books sent to the Middle East Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and some universities and institutes, to consider exempting Lebanese students from fees. tuition fees due for the year 2020-2021, in accordance with the exceptional circumstances Lebanese are experiencing as a result of the economic crisis and collapse. The Lebanese pound, and by the restrictions imposed by the banks on financial transfers abroad. Bonsar wanted to find a practical and quick solution to the students’ problem. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister promised to follow up on the issue, explaining that “the Russian authorities were forced to tighten measures and procedures for travel restrictions in many countries, including Lebanon. It is about protecting residents and expatriates as a result of the outbreak of the Corona epidemic ”.
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