US envoy Tom Barrack concluded his visit to Beirut on Wednesday by reiterating Washington’s stances related to the disarmament of Hezbollah, which he said is the responsibility of the Lebanese government that is obligated to limit the possession of weapons in the country to the state.
He warned that its failure to carry out tangible steps in this regard means that the current situation will persist, including Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and drones flying over Beirut.
During a small meeting with a group of journalists, including Asharq Al-Awsat, Barrack said he was optimistic about everything.
It is time for the Lebanese government to assume its responsibility towards the agreements it struck in the past, he went on to say.
The government agreed to a number of conditions that may or may not have pleased everyone, he added. He said half of those he is referring to are saying that the current situation is good and will never change. So, let Hezbollah and Israel fight each other down there. That is their business; Beirut is fine.
He added that on the other hand, he saw some people who want change and so they must decide what this change demands.
Lebanon has embarked on a path; it elected a new president, chose a new prime minister and boasts a competent parliament speaker, remarked Barrack.
Lebanon has a new group of ministers who are very competent. Hold them to account, he urged. If there is a law, then someone must implement it. If the law is harsh on a segment of the population, then they must be informed that they are not above the law.
The reason for Lebanon’s success in the past was because everyone worked outside the system. Over time, since the 1970s, people came up with their own interpretations of the law. Courage lies in implementing the law, stressed the envoy.
Failure to do so in all likelihood means that Israeli strikes and drones will not stop. “It’s that simple,” Barrack said.
Surprisingly, he revealed that he sensed during his meetings with a Lebanese “readiness” to normalize relations with Israel. He clarified that none of the officials said this, as the government will always say that it never talks to Israel.
Moreover, Barrack said that Israel has no ambitions in Lebanon. “Who would be dumb enough to believe otherwise?” If Israel really wanted to swallow up Lebanon, it would have done so in a heartbeat. Everybody knows that. The government knows that. This is not what Israel wants, he asserted.
Barrack added that he had the opportunity to sit down with Lebanese ministers and senior officials, expressing his admiration of them.
He said that he believes that everyone, deep down, certainly wants to reach a solution to the conflict in this region.
Asked whether Lebanon has a timeframe to disarm Hezbollah, he replied: “Yes.” Lebanon’s neighbor, Israel, not the United States, is the one who sets that timeframe.
The envoy reiterated that Lebanon stands before an opportunity. “We believe we have an opportunity and that we can help,” he continued. Lebanon can be a link to all neighbors when it is in a good place. With Gulf friends and friends in the West, as well as France, “we can have a real impact on this path.”
But the message remains the same: Lebanon must implement its laws. As long as they are not implemented, then it doesn't matter what it does. Lebanon will not get a single cent in foreign capital, he cautioned.
Hezbollah ‘propaganda’
Barrack mocked Hezbollah’s “propaganda” on social media that said the party will not lay down its weapons so that it will be able to “protect” the Lebanese from the “evil Syrians”.
The “evil Syrians” can’t even make it outside of Damascus, he said.
Addressing the Lebanese people, he assured them not be concerned with Iran, Israel or Syria. They should instead be worried about their own internal affairs. If they stick together, then they can control the region.
Barrack also said there was an opportunity to strike a deal now between Hezbollah and Israel. Were he able to talk to Hezbollah, he would have told them so, he remarked.
Furthermore, he said the chances of Iran and the US failing to strike a deal are very slim, so the Lebanese must think about what points related to Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis must be included in the deal.
On reforms, he hailed Lebanon’s efforts, saying the banking crisis can be resolved after determining who is to blame for the losses. This happened in the US in 1989 and in other places around the world.
In the past, Lebanon had a group of elites who owned the banks and ran the country. They were the ones who benefited from all the money, even personally. That is why no one took any decision to address the crisis. But now, it seems that Lebanon has a number of people who are ready to do so, said the envoy.
Turning to Syria, Barrack expressed his support to the new Syrian leadership, calling on skeptics to present an alternative.
On Lebanese-Syrian relations, he said the two parties were never enemies. The new leadership has never thought about seizing Lebanese territories as they can barely handle developments taking place in Damascus.
Lebanon, meanwhile, has an opportunity, Barrack stated. Given the Lebanese capabilities, there is an opportunity for development in Syria through Gulf funds.
He noted that the Gulf is pouring funds into the new Syria. Even though interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa had a bad reputation in the beginning, now is the time to move forward.
Perhaps corruption will crop up in the future, but it isn’t there now, he said.
Lebanon, on the other hand, is seen as very complicated for the Arabs, so they decided that they will invest in Syria and shape a new country. Lebanon will benefit the most from this because Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates will pump funds there.
As usual, however, the Lebanese have to decide what to do, he stressed.
Ultimately, relations between Lebanon and Syria boil down to a lack of trust, Barrack said. Agreement between the two sides will be very important. The current leadership is in no way affiliated with the ousted regime, so, from that standpoint, there should be no issue with it.
Patriarch Rahi
Barrack had met on Wednesday with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, who told his guest that the Lebanese people were awaiting the outcomes of his visit.
Barrack responded that he doesn’t know what the ending will look like, but efforts are underway to achieve stability.
He said his visit carried hope, which should be the focus, instead of statements made here and there.
He said he can offer hope, money and support because the Gulf and world stand with Lebanon, while reiterating the demand to limit the possession of arms in the country to the state.
Barrack acknowledged that the situation is complicated for the Lebanese leaders, adding that he will return to Lebanon when the need arises.
The government, meanwhile, must decide what it needs to do. The US is not the only one that wants to help Lebanon, but the Gulf and neighbors too, but to do so, the Lebanese people must achieve stability, he urged.
