Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nbaih Berri received on Wednesday the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) delegation at Ain Al-Tineh, accompanied by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa and a team of Washington-based experts.
National News Agency reported the meeting, adding that discussions focused on Lebanon’s political as well as security developments and regional dynamics.
After the more than hour-long meeting, Ambassador Issa thanked Speaker Berri for offering the delegation a direct and unfiltered understanding of the Lebanese situation, noting that “what reaches the US is often different from what is happening on the ground.”
Commenting on the appointment of Ambassador Simon Karam to the “Mechanism” committee, Issa said Berri conveyed all necessary messages to the delegation, adding that “negotiations should not be judged prematurely.”
Issa affirmed the continuation of the so-called US military assistance to the Lebanese Army and said work is ongoing to schedule Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal’s visit to Washington.
The US ambassador, meanwhile, didn’t not mention the Israeli attacks, but only talked about the so-called Lebanese State’s “authority” south of Litani River.
ATFL President Ambassador Edward Gabriel described the meeting as “highly productive,” noting that the expert delegation is assessing Lebanon’s regional positioning to brief the US Congress.
Source: Lebanese media (translated and edited by Al-Manar)