Beirut (AsiaNews) Fadi Noun - The Maronite patriarch, Card. Beshara Raï yesterday held a Zoom press conference with a dozen transalpine journalists belonging to the French Diplomatic Press Association (APDF). In the course of the conference he returned to his request for a statute of neutrality for Lebanon and an international conference under the aegis of the UN, focused on the Lebanese problem. Although added nothing new to the issues under discussion, the patriarch provided some clarifications in the answers to the questions posed that allowed for a better understanding of the scope of his campaign. In particular, he said he wanted the United States to align their positions with those of France on a possible solution to the Lebanon question.

On the domestic front, questioned about the responsibility that rests with the head of state in blocking the process for the formation of the government, the patriarch said that it is exclusively attributable to the president but the latter, due to his responsibilities, must "take charge of all the power afforded him by his office". On the external level he said an international conference is desirable to the extent that a concertation between regional and international sponsors of local political forces can be imposed. Some of these want a settling of scores, while others, like Iran, want to maintain a status quo. However, the head of the Maronite Church spoke out for the request to "internationalize" the crisis. “We never spoke about internationalization - he specified - but about an international conference”.

BEIRUT (AP) — A senior U.S. official warned Thursday that Lebanese politicians who continue to block reforms in the crisis-hit country could face punitive actions by Washington and its allies. U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs David Hale did not provide details on the nature of the potential actions. But appeared to refer to reports that the United States and its allies may impose sanctions on Lebanese politicians in order to force them to end a monthslong political deadlock and start badly needed reforms to fight corruption.

by NAJIA HOUSSARI -- arabnews.com -- BEIRUT: A leading US diplomat has urged Lebanese officials to “show sufficient flexibility to form a new government capable of true and fundamental reform.” Visiting US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale on Wednesday said that the urgently needed step offers “the only path out of this crisis.” But he added: “It is also only a first step. Sustained cooperation will be needed if we are going to see transparent reforms implemented.” Hale is on a two-day visit to Beirut at the request of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss Lebanon’s economic and political crisis. On the first day of his visit, Hale said: “The US and its international partners are greatly concerned with the failure here to advance the critical reform agenda long demanded by the Lebanese people.”

The diplomat and foreign specialist had previously visited Lebanon in December 2019 and August 2020. He said that “only little progress has been made regarding the long-overdue financial, economic and governance reforms, while millions of Lebanese endure mounting economic and social hardships on top of the pandemic. “This is the culmination of decades of mismanagement, corruption and failure of the Lebanese leaders to put the national interests as a priority.” Hale said: “The US and the international community are ready to help, but nothing meaningful can be done without a Lebanese partner.” Hale met Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, Progressive Socialist Party head Walid Jumblat and caretaker Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe. He has also scheduled meetings with Lebanese opposition leaders. In a statement issued by the US Department of State, Hale expressed US concerns over the “deteriorating social and economic situation, and the political impasse that has contributed to this deterioration.” After the meeting, Wehbe said that Hale had outlined the new US administration’s approach to Middle East and Lebanese issues that “is closer to our vision.”

خلاء سبيل الرائد نداف ورفاقة خطوة جيدة باتجاه العدالة على امل ان يتم توقيف المسؤولين الفعليين تحية الى روح الشهيد ميلاد النداف …

by maritime-executive.com — ANKUR KUNDU —After a huge chemical explosion left Beirut’s waterfront in tatters last year, France’s CMA CGM has put …