Abdel Samad: PM Diab Has Denied Making Any Official Apology To US Ambassador, And It Is Up To Her To Reveal The Name Of The Apologist

Minister of Information, Dr. Manal Abdel Samad Najd, clarified in an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation this evening, that she had contacted Prime Minister, Dr. Hassan Diab, who denied providing “any official apology by the Lebanese government to American Ambassador Dorothy Shea,” adding that “it is up to Ambassador Shea to disclose the identity of the caller who presented the apology.”

Responding to a question over Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Minister Nassif Hitti’s meeting with the US Ambassador tomorrow, Abdel Samad deemed that “this issue is regulated by international agreements, especially the Vienna Agreement that governs diplomatic relations,” adding that “the Minister of Foreign Affairs is the good reference for assessing this position and clarifying his stance and that of the Lebanese government and state.”

The Information Minister stressed on “the principle of separating authorities, which is constitutional and essential between the judicial and executive powers,” while emphasizing that “it is not possible to prevent any media person from expressing his opinion, and to take any action as long as he observes the laws. But in the event of a violation of these laws and their provisions, there is the Ministry of Information that takes the necessary procedures, starting with a reprimand and far-reaching the Publications Court.”

Abdel Samad disclosed that “until now we have not been informed of the Judge’s ruling [Judge of Urgent Matters in Tyre Mohammad Mazeh], and upon being notified we will have our position on this matter.”

NNA