Mikati’s lack of action leaves US skeptical

A U.S. official told Al Rai newspaper that Lebanese PM Najib Mikati is trying to draw the support of Western capitals, adding that Mikati has not yet lived up to any of the promises he made.  

“Mikati entrusted the task of establishing contacts with U.S. officials to one of his relatives. Afterwards, he bought the services of companies and individuals working in lobbying groups to improve his image and create an appropriate atmosphere before his visit to Washington”, the official said.    

The newspaper quoted the official as saying: “Although Mikati succeeded in attracting senior lobbyists who have worked with Lebanese officials before, they have yet to change U.S. skepticism towards his promises.”   

“When PM Mikati took office, we said to ourselves that Washington will judge his actions. And to this day, we have not seen Mikati taking any prompt action; He has rather spread rhetoric, excuses and pretexts that are bound to wear thin”, the official said.  

U.S. diplomatic sources said that Mikati is contacting officials from all around the world to clarify that he is in no way responsible for Lebanon’s vote against the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership. “Mikati is blaming Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour by claiming that he only follows the orders of Speaker Nabih Berri and does not comply with the Premier’s wishes”,  the sources added.

The U.S. source said that Mikati sent a verbal message to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in which he stressed that Lebanon did not stray from the Arab flock and he was unaware that Mansour will vote against the decision.  

The U.S. sources added that Mikati told a number of foreign ambassadors in Beirut that he had asked Mansour to vote in line with the Saudi vote. “Mikati contacted a senior Saudi official to inform him that Lebanon had decided to join KSA in its decision, but because of the regional circumstances, Mansour did not comply with the PM’s demands”,  said U.S. sources.