U.S. Prefers a Lebanese Foreign Minister who is Not a Hizbullah Ally
Washington welcomed the victory of the March 14 forces in Lebanon”s parliamentary elections, and said it preferred a foreign minister who is not allied with Hizbullah.
A high-ranking State Department source told As Safir newspaper that there was "a clear choice between March 14 and independents on the one hand and Hizbullah and its allies on the other" in the parliamentary elections.
However, the opposition "will play an important role in political life" because the majority”s victory was "not absolute," the source added.
He said Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun will have "an important voice in parliament" with the 21 MPs he now has in his bloc. While Hizbullah”s 11-member bloc is not strong in terms of membership, the official added.
He said the U.S. and Lebanon”s friends were not comfortable with the experience of veto power in the government because many issues were frozen in the previous period.
A high-ranking State Department source also told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that it would be easier to cooperate with a Lebanese foreign minister who is not allied with Hizbullah.
About U.S. aid to Lebanon, the source said: "Washington”s assistance to Lebanon depends on what it wants and what it expects from the Lebanese government in terms of its partnership with the U.S."
Aid also depends on the upcoming cabinet”s formation and policy statement, the official added.
Meanwhile, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said Lebanese voters declared that the government should be responsible for security and sovereignty which is in compliance with resolutions 1559 and 1701.
He told al-Arabiya TV network that Hizbullah”s rejection to give up its weapons and become a political party puts Lebanon in danger.