Morgan Ortagus, US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, held talks on Saturday morning, with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker Nabih Berri, the army chief commander, Rodolphe Haikal, and Lebanese forces leader, Samir Geagea.
Earlier in the morning, Mrs. Ortagus met with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace. The meeting lasted an hour and a half. Ortagus was accompanied by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Syria, Natasha Franceschi, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, and their accompanying delegation. She left the presidential palace without making any statements to the press.
According to sources from Baabda, the discussions between President Aoun and the US envoy were "positive, frank, and direct." The talks focused on the situation along the border with Syria and in southern Lebanon, where the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel is being violated.
Structural reforms that Beirut is expected to implement were also discussed. During the meeting, President Aoun reaffirmed the state's commitment to implementing the ceasefire agreement and applying international resolutions, particularly regarding illegal weapons.
The president assured that the Lebanese army was fulfilling all its duties and coordinating with the international ceasefire monitoring committee, according to the same sources. The US envoy confirmed continued US support for Lebanon.
Morgan Ortagus then left to the Serail for a meeting that lasted nearly an hour with Prime minister Nawaf Salam.
The meeting focused on financial and economic reforms. According to the National news agency, Ortagus praised the government's reform plan, highlighting the steps related to the bank secrecy, the draft law for banking sector reform, and the launch of a new mechanism for state appointments.
The government’s plans for administrative and institutional reform, as well as anti-corruption efforts, were also discussed. The importance of reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund was emphasized, according to the NNA.
Regarding the situation in the south, Nawaf Salam and Morgan Ortagus discussed the measures taken by the Lebanese army to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the security arrangements to halt hostilities, and the steps needed. This includes cooperation with the UNIFIL monitoring committee and the completion of Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
The U.S. envoy expressed satisfaction with the steps the Lebanese government has begun implementing at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport.
The developments along the Lebanese-Syrian border, were also discussed. Both parties stressed the importance of full control to prevent tensions, chaos, and all forms of smuggling.
The meeting lasted over an hour and was considered as “constructive”.
Mrs.Ortagus didn’t make any statement to the press, before heading to Aïn el-Tineh for talks with Speaker Nabi Berri. Journalists were denied access to Mr Berri’s residency.
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