BICOM

Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, has told UK Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt that Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese people.

President Michel Aoun, considered an ally of Hezbollah, told Burt that Hezbollah’s allegiances in the region do not affect internal Lebanese politics and that Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese people and is represented in the Cabinet and parliament.

Burt said: “I came to Lebanon at an important time. Last week, the UK government proscribed Hezbollah in its entirety. My government took this decision for the sole and simple reason that we can no longer judge there is any meaningful distinction between Hezbollah’s military and political wings”. He said the decision was “not about our commitment to Lebanon or the Lebanese, and I want our $200m per year of support to Lebanon to continue. But there should be no illusion about our deep concerns about Hezbollah’s destabilising actions”.

Hezbollah said the UK decision “insulted the sentiments and the will of the Lebanese people” and was motivated by “servile obedience to the US administration”.

Burt was in Lebanon on an official two-day visit. He met with President Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab, Minister of Education Akram Shhehayyeb, Minister of Social Affairs Richard Kouyoumjian, and Director of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim.

Many of Burt’s conversations during the visit focused on how to improve the conditions for the large number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Burt said: “Our policy is clear: we want Syrians to return, and we have no position on this other than ensuring they are safe, voluntary, and dignified, as verified by UNHCR. I welcome any initiative that helps achieve this.”