US ambassador to Lebanon sends message to Beirut over transport of gas
US Ambassador to Lebanon conveys a message from the Treasury Department to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati saying that there are no US fears of sanctions on the Egyptian gas passing through Syria.
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US ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati
US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea conveyed a message from the US Department of Treasury to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati reassuring the latter regarding Lebanese concerns about regional power deals that the United States "helped facilitate and encourage" between Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.
Shea's words came following her visit to the Grand Serail in Beirut, also adding that there would be no concerns over the Caesar Act.
"This message that was delivered constitutes a push forward and a key event at the time we keep making progress toward achieving more sustainable and cleaner energy to help address the energy crisis the Lebanese people are suffering from," Shea said.
2/2 حيث جرى خلال اللقاء عرض للأوضاع العامة في لبنان والسبل الآيلة لدعم الشعب اللبناني للخروج من أزماته الراهنة، كما تم التباحث في الأنشطة التي تقوم بها الوكالات والمنظمات التابعة للأمم المتحدة في لبنان#لبنان #pcm pic.twitter.com/CdxbETNUH1
— رئاسة مجلس الوزراء 🇱🇧 (@grandserail) January 14, 2022
There had been reports about the United States not officially approving the transportation of Egyptian gas to Lebanon through Syria because it "violates" the US sanctions on Syria known as the Caesar Act.
Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayad asserted two weeks ago that repairs on a gas pipeline in northern Lebanon were scheduled to be completed by the end of February, enabling the start of gas imports from Egypt.
After a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, the Lebanese Presidency quoted Fayad as saying that, upon completion, the first phase of the work would allow Lebanon to deliver gas to Deir Ammar (a power plant in northern Lebanon).
