tayyar.org – Does Washington Cover the Macron Initiative?

News: The French initiative is internally “acceptable”. However, the criterion of its success remains, from the point of view of the forces that appointed Mustafa Adib to head the government, it is in the practical position of the United States of America. The “positive” signal is the announcement by the US Secretary of State to share the same goals with France regarding Lebanon, but the lesson remains in implementation: Will Washington allow the funds to reach Lebanon?

As for the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, he left Lebanon, after he distributed the French ministerial statement to the new Lebanese government, and gave his instructions to the ruling class, the main concern now is to monitor the American positions. Regardless of the seriousness of the Franco-European initiative and the coverage given to the government of Mustafa Adib to implement the “reforms” required of it, it cannot be overlooked that the “detonation button” is in the hands of the US side.

The latter is capable of destroying what Macron has done. The test will be with practical situations. Will US officials block the French steps? For example, but not limited to, after the cabinet is formed, Lebanon will return to negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. The corporation, which has 189 members, is dominated by Washington and its allies. And because it is not possible to act as if IMF loans are separate from political relations and conditions, then it is permissible to ask whether the United States will allow Lebanon to borrow from the IMF, which are seen within the authority as the only one. ” solution “to the suffocating crisis, while Macron puts the agreement with” The Fund “is above the priorities of the next government.

The first American comments, after Macron’s visit, remain tensions between tension and relaxation. The difference in approaching the issues is still evident. Macron, for example, “admitted” representing the popular Hezbollah and being a basic “Lebanese component”, who “realistically” could not avoid dialogue with him. And he considered that discussions with controversial issues, such as defense strategy, should be postponed at the current stage, while US policy continues to revolve around intensifying pressure on Hezbollah and its allies, and changing the balance of power in the country. The US Undersecretary of State for Near East Affairs, David Schenker, yesterday described to the Hezbollah daily “Asharq Al-Awsat” that “a large part of the problem is not interested in reform and prefers the status quo,” revealing that the American work still continues. There will be investigations to come. Impose sanctions on some of the characters. Even Schenker decided to “boycott” politicians, restricting his meetings with opposition figures and “civil society” associations to hear what the people “want.” The answer to this point came from the former deputy Walid Jumblatt, in an interview with the “LBC”, saying: “And what is found… what should he do? You won’t destroy the world if we meet.

Last night he continued to put sticks in the wheels, and the US State Department announced to the “Al Arabiya” channel its condition that “Hizbullah should not be part of the Lebanese government.” The Americans soften the hard-line stance towards “the party” when talking about the French initiative. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared at a press conference: “We are working with the French in Lebanon and we have the same goals,” adding that “this government must make profound reforms. The Lebanese are calling for a real change and the United States will use its diplomatic presence and means to ensure that this is achieved. “

This talk suggests that the “initiative” has serious dimensions, in contrast to all previous attempts. This is reinforced by Jumblatt’s speech yesterday to the “LBC” channel, who appeared in his “moderate” suit, and contradicts American tendencies by saying: “The sanctions against Hezbollah will not weaken it, but will weaken the Lebanese economy, and I advise the Gulf countries to join the French initiative. ” To Pompeo, “Do you want to help the French financially?” Capital Control is necessary with a new banking perception ».

He explained that he chose Mustafa Adib, “because there is a unique French initiative, which is to save what remains of Greater Lebanon and to put Lebanon on the path of salvation … I give confidence to the French initiative, and to the majority of the assistants (the first to) yesterday () in the meeting of the Pino Palace with Macron) Give confidence ”, stating that the document is“ a draft ministerial declaration. I advise the assigned president to work with this document and that there should be no clinging to ministries or quotas.

Confidence in the French initiative was also expressed by President General Michel Aoun. He said that “Macron’s push towards Lebanon must be accompanied by a Lebanese determination to help ourselves and to form a capable and transparent government as soon as possible to begin taking immediate reform measures that will help launch the process of rescuing the Lebanon. Lebanon and provide international support. “