New York – Beirut:
As part of its diplomatic activity on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held extensive discussions with US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a prominent member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which dealt with issues of support for the army, confining arms to the state, economic reforms, and the future of the international presence in southern Lebanon.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of Lebanon’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in the presence of Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamada Moawad, where the two sides reviewed the latest regional and local developments and the prospects for bilateral relations. The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for Shaheen’s positions in support of Lebanon, especially her continued support for the military establishment.
During the meeting, Salam affirmed the Lebanese government’s commitment to extending state authority, restricting weapons to its hands, and moving forward on the path of reforms. He called for continued American support to enhance the capabilities of the Lebanese Army, as well as mobilizing international support for the recovery and reconstruction path. It is noteworthy that Senator Shaheen had previously announced her support for the government’s decisions related to arms exclusivity, financial reforms, and enhancing the army’s capabilities.
Regarding the southern file, Salam stressed the need to avoid any security vacuum that may arise with the end of the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stressing his country’s urgent need for a continued international presence that performs the roles of monitoring, coordination and communication, which is an official Lebanese position that the government has repeatedly adhered to.
For her part, Senator Shaheen stressed the importance of Lebanon continuing the path of restricting weapons to the state, and stressed the necessity of the House of Representatives approving the financial gap law, and moving forward with the reforms required to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. It should be noted that the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee had previously linked providing support to Lebanon to implementing the reforms recommended by the IMF and strengthening state authority.
This meeting comes within a schedule of intensive meetings held by the Prime Minister in New York, before he concludes his participation in the work of the General Assembly, heading to the American capital, Washington, to continue his talks with American and international officials.
