Lebanon … Washington clarifies the circumstances surrounding Aoun’s call to use the “sword of transparency”

Beirut: The Washington embassy in Beirut on Friday denied US Under Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Schenker the role of Lebanese President Michel Aoun in fighting corruption.
This was produced in a statement from the embassy, ​​issued to clarify statements by Schenker on the fight against corruption in Lebanon, which the Lebanese presidency considered as a tribute by the US official to Aoun, which sparked controversy in the Arab country, which has been going on for months witnessing protests, for reasons including the spread of corruption.
Embassy spokesman Casey Bonfield said during the statement: “Undersecretary of State Schenker hinted at the saying engraved on the sword hanging in President Michel Aoun’s office, in which it was written:” Transparency is the sword that remove corruption. “
He added: “In his positive comment on the saying, Schenker urged the president to use the sword of transparency metaphorically and change the approach to governance.”
Earlier on Friday, the Lebanese presidency announced, in a statement that a copy reached Anatolia, that Schenker visited the presidential palace and met with Aoun.
The palace statement read: “Schenker praised the positive role that President Aoun plays in leading the fight against corruption and changing the approach that prevailed in the past.”
On Wednesday, Schenker participated in the first session of negotiations to demarcate the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel, at the headquarters of the United Nations force in the “Naqoura” region in southern Lebanon.
The conduct of these negotiations comes after years of US mediation and under the auspices of the United Nations represented by its Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Jan Kubis.
Lebanon is embroiled in a conflict with Israel over an area in the Mediterranean, of about 860 square kilometers, known as Zone No. 9, rich in oil and gas, and Beirut announced in January 2016 the launch of its first round of licenses. for exploration.
The maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel do not witness military conflicts like the land borders, which are controlled by “Hezbollah” (loyal to Iran), and there are tensions from time to time due to what Tel Aviv says are attempts by the Hezbollah fighters from crossing borders.
(Anatolia)