BEIRUT: A U.S. State Department official arrived in Beirut late Monday on an unannounced visit amid mounting U.S. pressure on Lebanon to fund the U.N.-backed court probing the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jake Walles met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati Tuesday morning, along with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly.
Talks focused on the current situation in both Lebanon and the region as well as bilateral relations between the two countries.
Walles also met with President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Central Bank of Lebanon Governor Riad Salameh, and former Minister of Finance Mohammad Chatah.
During his meetings, Walles underscored the need for Lebanon to meet all of its international obligations, including cooperating with and funding the STL, which has accused four Hezbollah members of involvement in the assassination of Hariri.
“He also reiterated the U.S. view that it is important to ensure that the current instability in Syria does not create tension in Lebanon,” U.S. embassy said in a statement, adding that Walles renewed America’s commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.
The visit came a day after the U.S warned Lebanon it could face “serious consequences” should it fail to fund the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon investigating Hariri's assassination.
The warning came during a meeting Monday between U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.
“[Ambassador Maura Connelly] expressed the United States’ concern that a failure by Lebanon to meet its obligations to the [Special] Tribunal [for Lebanon] could lead to serious consequences,” a statement from the U.S. Embassy said.
Hours after Connelly’s remarks, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah announced that his party is against financing the STL.
He called for a vote within the Cabinet if agreement is not reached among ministers on the divisive issue, which may threaten the stability of the government.