Lebanese officials hold high-level talks over U.S. proposal

BEIRUT — High-level political consultations are underway in Lebanon to formulate an appropriate response to the US proposal delivered by Thomas Barack, US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria, during his visit to the Lebanese capital on June 19. The American proposal reportedly focuses on three main issues: the disarmament of Hezbollah, implementation of domestic reforms, and the regulation of Lebanon’s relationship with Syria. 

As part of the Lebanese consultations, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri to discuss his stance on the proposal — including the position of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia — in order to draft a unified Lebanese response to the Americans. 

According to Al Sharq television, which cited Lebanese sources, Speaker Berri has been tasked with liaising directly with Hezbollah. The sources indicated that Lebanon’s official response to the U.S. proposal will be issued before the scheduled dialogue between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah concerning the militia’s weapons. 

The same sources confirmed that no date has yet been set for a cabinet session, as Berri is expected to first submit his comments on the proposal and share them with Hezbollah before the government convenes. With regard to the other items in the U.S. proposal — domestic reforms and Lebanon’s relations with Syria — there appears to be consensus among Lebanese factions.