U.S.: We Will Watch How British Contact with Hizbullah Proceeds
The United States said Friday it is not ready to follow its ally Britain in opening low-level contact with the political wing of Hizbullah but stressed that it will "watch" how the British decision "proceeds."
Gordon Duguid, a State Department spokesman, told reporters that President Barack Obama”s administration, which has promised to reach out to U.S. foes, had been consulted by Britain before the announcement Friday.
"U.S. officials were alerted by the British government that they were taking – they were considering this action," he said.
But Duguid insisted the new administration was following longstanding U.S. policy — including that of the preceding George Bush administration — to shun contacts with Hizbullah”s political and armed wings.
"We are not ready to take the same step, no. Our position on Hizbullah has not changed," Duguid told reporters, declining to either praise or criticize the British move.
However, the United States seemed interested in the results of the British contacts with the Shiite group when Duguid said "we will watch how that proceeds and we”ll move along from there."
In London, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Friday that Britain has authorized low-level contact with Hizbullah”s political wing to stress the urgency of disbanding militias.
A State Department official told reporters on condition of anonymity that Washington envisioned possible benefits from the British decision and would consult with Britain about its contacts with Hizbullah.
"If they can use some positive influence with Hizbullah, that would be a positive factor," the official said.
"We are looking for a comprehensive approach" to defusing tensions in the Middle East, he added.
"Any of the nations who are currently active in the Middle East trying to bring about peace can also look at a comprehensive way to engage the parties in conflict or other groups and we will see how that proceeds," he said.
"For the moment, we are not following that same path," the official added.