Hariri confers with Powell; political American support for Paris II
The Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri has received an American support for the "Paris II" conference embodied in that the American side showing its readiness to take part in said conference but without giving any financial contribution. A matter which means providing moral political support, a thing which is considered by Lebanon as positive, in itself.
Hariri's meeting with the US Secretary of State Colin Powell was attended by the Powell's assistance William Burns, his assistance for the Middle East David Satterfield and the Lebanese ambassador to the US Fareed Abboud.
Discussions between Hariri and Powell also dealt with conditions in the Middle East region especially the Iraqi issue and the recent developments in the Palestinian territories.
Talks also dealt with Lebanon's move towards "defending its rights to al-Wazzani river waters and the report of the Lebanese government regarding this matter which was positively met by the American side especially towards bringing the matter to the rules of the international law on settling conflicts, according to the statement issued by the press office of the Lebanese prime minister.
When Hariri was asked about the position of the Lebanese government concerning the American fears of "Hizbullah" activities, he explained " there is a dialogue between Lebanon and the US ongoing since a very long time." He stressed that "we are now concentrating on this Paris II meeting." Later in the day, al-Hariri met with the chairman of the World Bank for the second time since his arrival in Washington. The meeting was attended by high ranking World Bank officials, the Lebanese ministers of finance and the economy and al-Hariri's advisor for European affairs Basil Yard.
Al-Hariri described the meeting which lasted more than one hour as positive. he said "we always brief the World Bank on the programs of our government, the same way we did with the International Monetary Fund. And the two establishments view positively the steps taken by the Lebanese government and also steps to be taken in the future." He stressed that everyone views "Paris II" as a very important station and "we will complete talks with them and with the IMF."