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“We imposed sanctions on Fenianos and Ali Hassan Khalil for providing material support to Hezbollah, in addition to the fact that they were involved in providing economic and financial services to the party and in acts of corruption that allowed the party to carry out its work in Lebanon.” said.
Schenker explained that these sanctions should be a message to everyone in Lebanon that “there must be different policies.”
He stressed that “Hezbollah’s political allies must know that they will be responsible for facilitating the party’s terrorist activities.”
“Sanctions against Hezbollah, its supporters and other corrupt actors will continue, and we will use all powers to hold the Lebanese leaders accountable for failing to fulfill their duties towards the Lebanese people,” Schenker added.
Schenker refused to go into the naming of the people who will be included in the US sanctions in the future. He also declined to speak about whether the former minister, Gebran Bassil, and the governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh, were among them. However, he said, “these sanctions take a long time to prepare due to their level of quality and review by attorneys from various US agencies … I hope that we can obtain a larger set of these sanctions as soon as possible.”
On the French initiative in Lebanon and whether there is an understanding between the French and American parties on it, the US Under Secretary of State for Near East Affairs said: “We have always said that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that has been involved in the Lebanese political process and has terrorized many Lebanese citizens and politicians. “
“In this context, we have a difference of opinion with the French government, which recognizes that Hezbollah is a legitimate political organization and a legitimate political party, and this is the little disagreement between us and the French government,” Schenker said.
We do not believe that meetings should be held to legislate this organization and personalities belonging to it, such as a meeting with a parliamentarian, Muhammad Raad (a member of the Hezbollah bloc). But apart from this point, as Secretary Pompeo said, we believe that the French initiative has many advantages. A government committed to reform, transparency, the fight against corruption and self-distancing, and a government that brings in experts who do what is necessary to achieve a reform agenda and help the Lebanese people, requirements that open the way for financial help.
He said: “I think we are on the same page with the French and this is what we hear from the French president’s office that those who are trying to obstruct the reform, the French government is looking to classify them and impose sanctions on them as well, and we think that this is a fruitful approach. “
Regarding the US position on the new Lebanese prime minister, Schenker noted that “we focus on principles rather than personalities when dealing with the new Lebanese government, and therefore I will not comment on the newly appointed Lebanese prime minister. We focus heavily on the concept of reform that any new government should implement. From now on, practice transparency and hold the corrupt accountable. There must be a government that fights against corruption and a government that adheres to the principle of distancing itself and distancing Lebanon from the policies of the countries of the region. If he does all of these things and respects them, then we look forward to working with him. “
On the mediation he is undertaking to demarcate the maritime and land borders between Lebanon and Israel, Schenker said: “I believe that we are close to solving the problem of border demarcation. We have become a bit involved in this matter and I do not want to go into details of what’s happening”.
He noted that Lebanon’s agreement to the framework agreement that Ambassador David Satterfield worked on opens an opportunity for Israel and Lebanon to make real progress.
“I will not go into details of what freezes the situation, and I hope to go to Lebanon and sign the agreement in the next few weeks,” Schenker said.
The United States Under Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs revealed that he met with Ali Hamdan, Advisor to the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, and said: “I hope and believe that we are making gradual progress in the dialogue on the demarcation of the border, and I hope to end the framework agreement so that Lebanon and Israel can move forward and discuss the border issue. I have a long time. “
Schenker described Ismail Haniyeh’s visit to Lebanon as counterproductive for the region and Haniyeh described him as a terrorist affiliated with a terrorist organization.
He said: “I don’t think countries need to provide a visa for such personalities to enter their territories.”
Schenker explained that, during his recent visit to Lebanon, he conveyed a message to the Lebanese people that the United States is committed to helping them recover after the terrible explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4.
He added that he expressed support for legitimate Lebanese calls for political and economic reforms, transparency and accountability, and the elimination of corruption, which is destroying Lebanon’s capabilities.
Schenker said that next month marks the first anniversary of the Lebanese people taking to the streets to demand reforms.
He stressed that “the Lebanese people want to fulfill their demand for real change and achieve a new political path committed to reform and the fight against corruption.”
