Saad Hariri must fight corruption and implement reforms to unlock international assistance for the country’s economic crisis, a senior US State Department official said on Thursday.
“We stand with the Lebanese people as they urge their political leaders to end business as usual,” said the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, David Schenker.
Mr Hariri, who has been prime minister twice before, pledged that his fourth government in a decade would be one of “non-partisan specialists” after Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Thursday chose him for the position.
Mr Hariri resigned last year after mass protests demanding an overhaul of a political system dominated by the Lebanese elite and an end to corruption.
Former Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned in August after the massive explosion at Beirut’s port which killed at least 190 people and levelled areas of the city.
Mr Diab's immediate designated successor, Mustapha Adib, stood down after failing to form a Cabinet.
Mr Schenker called on “any new government of Lebanon to embrace and implement reforms, to embrace transparency, to fight corruption, to hold those accountable for their crimes or misdeeds and to be committed to disassociation”.
The last point referred to Beirut’s stated 2012 policy of staying out of regional conflicts.
“These are what the US has repeatedly said are the preconditions for US support for unlocking the IMF loan,” Mr Schenker said.
Lebanon this year requested a $10 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund as it seeks to cope with a currency and debt crisis.
But any IMF loan would rely on approval from the US, which controls the most shares in the international organisation.
Mr Schenker spent three days in Lebanon last week as part of a tour of the region, during which he met Lebanese political and civil society figures including Mr Aoun.
On his trip, he told one observer that Mr Hariri "deserves a second chance", The National has learnt.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also called Mr Aoun on Friday.
Mr Schenker has refused to publicly make any official endorsements of Mr Hariri’s appointment.
“The United States has not commented or weighed in on specific individuals in Lebanon,” he told reporters.
“There’s a lot to fix, so we’re sticking with principles, rather than people. So, we’re going to reserve judgment.”
Joyce Karam contributed to this report
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Jigra
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Lexus LX700h specs
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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GAC GS8 Specs
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In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
MATCH INFO
Serie A
Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
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THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
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Price: On request
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
