[ad_1]
A US State Department official confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that his country would use “all the powers that we have 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 of the accusations they brought against his son-in-law, the Representative. Gebran Bassil, and sanctions were imposed.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned that the US authorities issued an ultimatum to Bassil before the sanctions were imposed, but the US official Asharq Al-Awsat spoke with declined to comment on the matter.
The US diplomat flatly denied that the sanctions are linked to the process of government formation in Lebanon or the presidential elections in the United States. “No, it’s about improving accountability,” 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 it is possible to expect sanctions against other people who are not affiliated with Hezbollah, he said: “As you know, we do not check the names of the people who will be punished. Lebanese leaders must act in the national interest to ensure that all specters of Lebanese society are protected from corruption and terrorism. We will use all the powers we have to hold Lebanese leaders accountable who put their personal interests before the interests of the Lebanese people. “
[ad_2]
