Report: U.S. Vetoes Bid to Give Hizbullah 4 Ministries
The United States has informed parties involved in the formation of the government that it had “vetoed” giving Hizbullah and its allies four main portfolios, al-Liwaa daily reported Thursday.
The newspaper said that the vetoed ministries include the interior, defense, justice and telecommunications portfolios.
According to the report, the four ministries “should not be granted to personalities from the new (parliamentary) majority” or those with close ties to it.
However, the U.S. embassy denied the report.
Embassy Spokesman Ryan Gliha told Naharnet that “the U.S. considers the makeup of Lebanon’s government to be strictly a Lebanese decision.”
“We call on all parties in Lebanon to protect the government formation process from any external interference,” he said.
“The U.S. believes that the international community will assess its relationship with any new government of Lebanon based on the makeup of the next cabinet, its ministerial statement and the action it takes in regard to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and Lebanon’s other international obligations,” Gliha added.
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