Report: Aoun Infuriates Shea with Remarks on Interference

President Michel Aoun’s remarks in his meeting with the diplomatic corps regarding alleged foreign support for some civil society groups have irritated U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea, a media report said on Friday.

“Speaking in front of Awkar visitors, Shea expressed dismay over the President’s statements, rejecting the accusations against her country and claiming that the President’s escalation had political motives related to the failure of several mediations aimed at removing Strong Lebanon bloc chief Jebran Bassil’s name from the sanctions list,” ad-Diyar newspaper reported.

“She accused the President of creating a fictional enemy that would help his political movement in the upcoming elections,” the daily added.

“She also claimed that her country is offering humanitarian and not political aid to some civil society groups, away from the state agencies that are rife with corruption,” ad-Diyar said.

In an apparent jab at Washington and other capitals, Aoun said in his speech Thursday that “some sides bypassed the duty of coordinating with state institutions and directly dealt with associations and groups, some of which popped up like mushrooms after the port blast.”

“They are taking advantage of the material and humanitarian support for political objectives and under ambiguous slogans, especially that Lebanon is on the eve of parliamentary elections,” the President added.