WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama renewed an emergency measure Thursday to freeze the assets of persons who work with Hizbullah militants and “infringe upon” Lebanese stability.
“While there have been some recent positive developments in the Syrian-Lebanese relationship, continuing arms transfers to Hizbullah that include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty,” Obama said in Congress.
Obama said the emergency measures declared on August 1, 2007, must “continue in effect beyond August 1, 2010.”
The original executive order under President George W. Bush, continued by Obama, found that threats against Lebanese stability and moves to restore Syria’s former dominant influence there presented an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the US.”
The statement came hours after confirmation that Syrian President Bashar Assad would visit Beirut on Friday for a summit aimed at easing tensions in Lebanon in his first visit since the 2005 assassination of Lebanese former Premier Rafik Hariri, which forced the pullout of Syrian troops after a 29-year presence.
Syria, also accused of backing Hizbullah, was widely believed to have a hand in the killing but has consistently denied any involvement. – AFP
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