A New York meeting of the international “Quartet” with a delegation representing Egypt and Jordan on Tuesday was the subject of discussions Wednesday between US Ambassador Vincent Battle and Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, although Lebanon’s growing ties with Iraq have attracted Washington’s scrutiny as well.
Battle told reporters that he spoke “at length” with Hariri about the New York meeting of the Quartet, which the ambassador said was committed “to a very serious, concrete program of economic and institutional reform within the Palestinian Authority.”
He also spoke about the UNIFIL mandate in the South, due to expire at the end of July, saying: “The request (for its renewal) is before the United Nations.” He predicted the renewal would be approved “without very many difficulties.”
Battle said it was important for Beirut to understand “what it is that they need from UNIFIL and the functioning of UNIFIL.”
Battle also discussed with the premier the progress of the “Paris II” donors conference.
Battle added that his government was anxiously awaiting the International Monetary Fund’s assessment of the Lebanese economic reform program “so that we can have a clear understanding where within that reform program a donors conference will fit.”
Battle also expressed concern about Lebanese official trade delegations that have visited Iraq recently, “within the context of the recently-signed Free Trade Agreement between Iraq and Lebanon,” in light of UN sanctions on Iraq.
“We are trying to understand in what direction this trade relationship is going and trying to make the point that, whatever trade relations between Lebanon and Iraq do develop, they take full cognizance of the rules and regulations that are in force within the United Nations sanctions regime,” he said.

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