Feltman-Shapiro Visit to Stress No Deals With Syria At Lebanon”s Expense
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey D. Feltman, and top Middle East officer at the U.S. National Security Council Daniel Shapiro, are scheduled to arrive this evening to Beirut prior to visiting Damascus to assure Lebanese officials that the Obama administration will make no deals with Syria at Lebanon”s expense.
Informed U.S. sources told the daily An-Nahar on Thursday that any U.S.-Syrian dialogue would not be at the expense of Lebanon. In fact, both U.S. officials would return to Beirut following the conclusion of their visit to Damascus to brief the Lebanese government on their talks.
The two U.S. officials are scheduled to meet with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, as well as with leading figures from March 14 Forces and religious figures, prior to heading to Damascus.
Feltman and Shapiro are scheduled to dine tonight with MP Saad Hariri. They will also meet with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, Deputy Head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan, Phalange leader Amin Gemayel, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.
In Damascus, they are scheduled to meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, and discuss disputed points between the United States and Syria, while affirming U.S. policy on Lebanon.
Feltman and Shapiro would also discuss means of bilateral cooperation with Syria regarding Iraq and Gaza. Their mission is to probe Syrian leaders” intentions prior to entering a wider and more comprehensive dialogue on a much higher level.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced earlier that the United States will send the two envoys to Syria for "preliminary conversations."