Sanctions Jitters over Walles-Salameh Meeting
A meeting between U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jake Walles and Central Bank governor Riyad Salameh has led to fears that the U.S. would adopt sanctions against Lebanon, An Nahar daily reported on Sunday.
The newspaper said the meetings between Walles and Salameh in addition to President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Miqati have “jittered” the Lebanese banking sector.
It quoted sources as saying that this “jitter” stirred fears about possible sanctions.
During his two-day visit to Beirut earlier this week, Walles urged the officials to honor Lebanon’s international obligations, including the funding of the international tribunal probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Walles discussed with senior Lebanese officials “the political, security, and economic situation in Lebanon, as well as the current situation in Syria,” the U.S. embassy said in a statement.
In his meetings, Walles “underscored the need for Lebanon to meet all of its international obligations, including cooperating with and funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” the statement said.
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