Ambassador Hale affirmed US stand next to Lebanon and the Lebanese in their ordeal. Hale also confirmed US cooperation with Lebanese authorities and allies in the region to assist Lebanon and the Lebanese.
President Michel Aoun met the US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador David Hale, accompanied by US Ambassador in Beirut, Dorothy Shea, and US diplomats, today at the Presidential Palace.
Ambassador Hale conveyed condolences, to President Aoun, from US President, Donald Trump, and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, for the victims of the Beirut Port explosion, stressing that the US stand by Lebanon and the Lebanese in the current ordeal. Hale pointed out that the US President’s directives are that the United States be present and ready for help, thanking President Aoun for Lebanon’s agreement to receive a team from the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) to participate in the investigations being conducted by the Lebanese judiciary, presenting his observations during his visit to the Port and Gemayzeh region.
The US Ambassador also asserted that his country will not interfere in the internal Lebanese affairs, but will cooperate with Lebanese authorities and with friend and allies in the region to help Lebanon and the Lebanese.
In addition, Ambassador Hale stressed the importance of achieving reforms and proceeding with combatting corruption, considering that “This opens the door to freeing “Cedar” funds and cooperating with the IMF, because that is what Lebanon needs now”.
For his side, President Michel Aoun thanked the US Ambassador for his visit and condolences, requesting to convey his greetings to President Trump and thanking him for his sympathy and participation in the Paris Conference to support Beirut and the Lebanese people.
The President asserted that investigations are undergoing to reveal the circumstances of the Beirut Port explosion, and that help is required in knowing the circumstances of the ship which was loaded with Ammonium Nitrate, arriving and unloading at the Beirut Port. President Aoun also welcomed the US FBI team to assist the Lebanese side in investigations, and indicated that a number of current and former officials at the Port are under investigation, pointing out that the new Government which will be formed will seek to achieve reforms as its first task, to proceed with the fight against corruption and to follow-up on the forensic audit, which was decided by the current Council of Ministers.
The President also enumerated the difficulties faced by the anti-corruption process that he launched since he assumed his responsibilities as President of the Republic, which caused clashes between him and many politicians, who felt concerned with corruption.
Attending the meeting on the Lebanese side were: Foreign Affairs Minister, Charbel Wehbe, former Minister, Salim Jreisatti, Director General of the Presidency, Dr. Antoine Choucair, in addition to advisors: Brigadier General, Paul Matar, Rafic Chelala, and Osama Khachab.