A senior US official on Wednesday cautioned against blaming Washington for Lebanon’s economic woes, saying government mismanagement was the main reason for its crisis.
“Lebanon is in crisis because the Lebanese government has, for years, mismanaged the Lebanese economy,” David Schenker, US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, told an online debate organised by the Beirut Institute.
“There is endemic corruption and they did not follow policies that any state should follow.”
Mr Schenker said it had been obvious that spending billions of dollars a year to defend the national currency while accumulating debt was unsustainable.
Some in Lebanon, especially pro-Hezbollah media, blamed US sanctions in late August 2019 on a Lebanese bank tied to the Iran-backed group for the financial meltdown in the country.
The sanctions forced the Banque du Liban, the central bank, to revoke the licence for Jammal Trust Bank.
About the same time, financial pressure rose on the Lebanese pound and Banque du Liban imposed capital controls, which were followed by a sovereign debt default.
But Mr Schenker pointed out that international ratings agencies have been steadily downgrading the creditworthiness of the Lebanese government and the country's banks well before the US sanctions on Jammal Trust bank.
The credit ratings downgrades contributed to undermining confidence in the currency. The Lebanese pound fell from a peg of 1,500 to the US dollar to 4,250 as the central bank ran out of foreign reserves.
Mr Schenker also came out in defence of Turkey, which sent Syrian militias and soldiers to Libya to defend the administration in Tripoli.
He said Ankara was "backing the internationally recognised government" and that Turkey "prevented what would have probably been a horrific humanitarian catastrophe" had Tripoli fallen.
The GNA has been locked in a year-long battle with the Libyan National Army, based in the country's east, who say they aim to end the rule of militias defending the Tripoli administration.
The US has come out in support of Turkey and the GNA in recent days after not taking a definite public stance on the conflict for months.
Mr Schenker said that the Turkish intervention in Syria was also positive.
He said Turkish troops in northern Syria prevented the "slaughter" of Syrians by the regime of President Bashar Al Assad and its allies.
"They prevented continued slaughter of Syrians by the Assad regime and Russia," Mr Schenker said. "I think personally that their intervention was a good thing."
Turkey bolstered local militias and rebels it backs in Idlib after a regime offensive this year supported by Russian bombing and Shiite militias backed by Iran.
It also strengthened Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, the most powerful Sunni extremist group in the region.
Turkish support allowed anti-regime forces to push back the offensive, ending with a temporary ceasefire.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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.
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ashima%20Chibber%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rani%20Mukerji%2C%20Anirban%20Bhattacharya%20and%20Jim%20Sarbh%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
All or Nothing
Amazon Prime
Four stars
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
