Friends of Lebanon Meet in Washington

by Shirl McArthur

After several false starts, the “Friends of Lebanon” meeting was finally scheduled for Dec. 16 in Washington. The meeting grew out of the April cease-fire that stopped Israel’s “Grapes of Wrath” assault on southern Lebanon after it resulted in the deaths of some 167 Lebanese civilians. The cease-fire called for the creation of two groups: the “Monitoring Group” and the “Consultative Group.” The Monitoring Group has had several meetings to deal with specific alleged infractions of the cease-fire, and in most cases the group has ruled against Israel. However, the Consultative Group never convened. Instead, it evolved into the “Friends of Lebanon” meeting.

Invitations and Expectations

Shortly after the November elections, President Bill Clinton sent letters of invitation to the leaders of those countries and organizations considered able and willing to help Lebanon in terms of grants, soft loans, or significant non-financial means. Using these criteria, the countries selected to be invited included the U.S., Canada, and Brazil in the Western Hemisphere; the EU countries, plus Norway, Switzerland, and Russia in Europe; Japan, Malaysia, and Brunei in Asia; and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, and Qatar in the Middle East. In addition, invitations went to the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the OPEC Fund, and the Islamic Development Bank. Representatives of the Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Abu Dhabi Funds were invited as part of their countries’ delegations.

Clinton’s invitations were followed by “explanatory” letters from Secretary of State Warren Christopher describing why it is important for the world community to demonstrate support for Lebanon at this time. Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Riad Tabbarah said he would be happy if the main result would be agreement to hold a series of bilateral meetings during the next few months to agree on specific amounts of assistance and specific projects to be financed.

However, countries were asked to be prepared to outline their plans for helping Lebanon. Before the meeting there also were reports that a number of countries, including the U.S., planned to announce specific amounts of assistance, although in most cases these amounts were previously committed or agreed to.

The Clinton administration will have to reconcile hosting a meeting designed to further Lebanon’s reconstruction and development efforts while at the same time enforcing a ban on travel to Lebanon by American citizens. The ban is perhaps the greatest single factor inhibiting U.S. private sector investment and participation in Lebanese reconstruction and development efforts.

Since Christopher’s letter emphasized how much Lebanese internal security and stability has improved, and lack of security and stability has been the stated justification for the travel ban, it is possible that the U.S. will lift the travel ban when it is reviewed in February.

Lebanon’s friends on Capitol Hill are taking steps to encourage such an announcement. On Dec. 4, Sen. Spence Abraham (R-MI) gave Christopher a letter signed by several senators urging that the travel ban be replaced by a travel advisory. Separately, some congressmen also sent Christopher individual letters. The feeling on the Hill is that State Department officials are ready to take this step, but that they want to be assured of sizeable congressional support before they do so.