Mikati Not Opposed to Syria Visit on Condition No Sanctions Are Imposed on Lebanon

Arab World

September 29th, 6:08am

Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat

Mikati and Berri meet on Tuesday. (NNA)

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday he is not opposed to visiting and cooperating with neighboring Syria on condition that that does not lead to sanctions on Lebanon. He stressed that he would not allow anything that would expose Lebanon to dangers or sanctions due to its relations with others. Mikati met on Tuesday with parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at his Ain al-Tineh residence to brief him on his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last week. At a press briefing after the talks, Mikati said he and Berri also tackled the upcoming legislative sessions and various draft-laws that the government will send to parliament. These laws, he explained, are among the reforms demanded by international agencies from Lebanon. Other bills are related to next year’s parliamentary elections, which parliament must tackle and approve before the polls are held, added Mikati. The premier is hoping to hold the elections before Ramadan. Furthermore, Mikati denied the existence of differences between him and President Michel Aoun over the committee that will hold negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. “The way I work is always determined by the desired goals, which are to ensure the success of the negotiations and save Lebanon regardless of who will carry out the talks,” he stressed. “Ultimately, I am the prime minister and nothing can be approved without my agreement,” he stressed. On whether Lebanon can be sanctioned in line with the Caesar Act for receiving oil shipments from Iran, Mikati said: “The Caesar Act is applied to those who work with Syria and the Syrian regime. This does not apply to Lebanon at the moment.”

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3215991/mikati-not-opposed-syria-visit-condition-no-sanctions-are-imposed-lebanon