Issa tells Aoun US does not want Sunday escalation to expand further
U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa met Monday with President Joseph Aoun, as Israel and Iran traded fire after Israel's bombing of Beirut's southern suburb.
Issa said the U.S. places great importance on Lebanon and has decided that Sunday's events must not expand further. "What happened yesterday is a political message, and we in the United States have decided that the confrontation must not expand any further," Issa said after meeting Aoun.
He said he discussed with the Lebanese president the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations and praised Lebanon's negotiating team, noting that it "displays a high level of professionalism."
Issa said U.S. President Donald Trump "always talks about Lebanon" and that negotiations are scheduled to resume in Washington.
Issa later met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam who re-iterated in the meeting that "no one can negotiate on behalf of Lebanon except the Lebanese state."
After meeting Berri, Issa informed journalists that the Speaker had "given him the response" regarding Hezbollah's acceptance of a ceasefire. He said Israel will not target Dahieh, if Hezbollah halts its attack on Israel, adding that Trump "almost got into a fight with Netanyahu over Lebanon."
Issa assured the reporters that there will be a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon - including in the pilot zone - and a cessation of hostilities. He said the prisoners will also be freed.
"Residents will return. The army will deploy in the pilot zone and Israel will halt its strikes. This point was previously unclear, as it makes no sense for the army to deploy there without any residents. Our priority is for the residents to return, for reconstruction to begin, and for roads and electricity to be restored, making it a model," he said.
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://prod.naharnet.com/stories/en/320562 |