U.S. embassy in Lebanon remained silent in the face of criticism made by Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh against U.S. Congress Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry, who did not meet with Salloukh during his recent visit to Beirut. The daily An-Nahar said Saturday.
Salloukh accused Kerry of ignoring diplomatic norms in not visiting him at the foreign ministry. Salloukh did not limit his attack to Kerry alone but went on to accuse other U.S. officials that paid him no visit when in Lebanon.
He also blamed Lebanese officials who "continue to act in a manner that encourages this U.S. administration and others to break away from followed diplomatic norms and laws."
Diplomatic sources asked whether foreign minister Salloukh is also attacking U.S. ambassador Michele Sison for not arranging a meeting between Salloukh and Kerry.
Meanwhile, European diplomatic sources also expressed their chagrin against Salloukh who continues to remind them of this issue whenever, he is not visited by a visiting European official.
Diplomatic sources questioned whether Salloukh is also upset with Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, who preferred to include Information Minister Tareq Mitri during his recent meeting with Kerry and Sison.
Prior to the Doha agreement, minister Mitri acted as foreign minister when the Shiite ministers boycotted the cabinet over political differences.
Diplomatic sources also questioned why Salloukh did not blame Arab foreign ministers who prefer to contact the prime minister.
One case in point is the telephone call made by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit to Saniora on Thursday concerning the Gaza Aid Conference that would be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, considering the fact that Salloukh is to represent Lebanon at the event.
Sources hoped that Salloukh should have been more enduring because at Sharm el-Sheikh he would meet a higher U.S. official participating at the conference, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.