British Minister for Middle East and International Development Alistair Burt said that his country’s decision to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization would not affect relations with Lebanon and its army.
Burt met separately on Thursday with President Michel Aoun and Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab, after holding talks on Wednesday with Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.
“Lebanon has the will to move positively to overcome the current situation,” Aoun told the visiting UK minister.
“We are working hard to implement the recommendations of CEDRE conference, especially with regard to reforms and projects, based on cooperation between the public and private sectors,” he added.
Aoun lauded the ongoing cooperation between Lebanon and Britain in various fields, especially the act of providing the Lebanese Armed Forces with much-needed equipment and building observation towers that have enabled the Lebanese army to defeat terrorists in the Bekaa border area.
The president expressed hope that bilateral relations would be strengthened, pointing out that Lebanon “has taken note of the British position towards Hezbollah.”
He stressed that Hezbollah’s regional expansion “does not mean that its influence on Lebanese politics goes beyond its capacity as part of the Lebanese people and its representation in the government and parliament.”
Burt, for his part, conveyed to Aoun his country’s desire to strengthen Lebanese-British relations in all fields.
“The recent economic conference in London is part of the British support plan for the Lebanese economy. UK’s relations with Lebanon will not be affected by any position taken by Britain against Hezbollah,” Burt added.
