Lebanese civil society activists and representatives of non-traditional political parties and groups talked about their vision with US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, who stressed for “change and reforms” in the country.
Schenker has decided not to meet with Lebanese officials, preferring instead to sit down with representatives of civil society and independent or resigned deputies.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the US official informed them that his country “will not offer any financial support or aid to Lebanon in the absence of reforms.”
The US official visited Lebanese Army chief General Joseph Aoun at his Yarze office, accompanied by a US Embassy delegation.
Talks reportedly touched on the current situation in the country and the means to bolster cooperation between the US and Lebanon.
Hours earlier, Schenker met -via video-meeting service Zoom - with five civil society organizations and non-traditional political parties.
The one-hour meeting was a chance for the Lebanese groups to express their vision concerning the transitional period in the country following the nomination of PM-designate Mustapha Adib to head a new government and the possibility to make changes to the corrupt Lebanese system.
“The US asked to meet with those groups, similar to what happened with the French side during the first visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Beirut last month,” one of the conferees told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The source said participants understood from Schenker that Washington does not obstruct the French initiative in Lebanon and does not have a clear position on holding early elections in the country.
The source added that all participants agreed on the need to achieve reforms to solve the political and economic crisis.
Dr. Laury Haytayan said that during their meeting with the US official, the Lebanese groups expressed support for change in Lebanon through democratic channels.
“As a political movement, we are open to all parties, whether the US or France or any other side that hears our demands and our opposition to the corrupt Lebanese regime,” she told Asharq Al-Awsat.
In response to their questions, Schenker told the activists that the US does not look at the person leading the new government but rather its agenda.
