BEIRUT, Sept 24 (NNN-NNA) – U.S. Treasury’s Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, Marshall Billingslea, assured that, he did not visit Lebanon to impose new sanctions on Lebanese banks.
“There is no new list for imposing new sanctions against Lebanese banks, and the U.S. does not have bad intentions towards Lebanese financial institutions,” Billingslea said, during a closed meeting with reporters.
However, Billingslea said that, the U.S. Treasury Department will punish institutions supporting Hezbollah financially or through other means.
On Aug 29, the U.S. Treasury’s office accused Lebanese Jammal Trust Bank of “brazenly enabling” Hezbollah’s financial activities.
In 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department accused the Lebanese Canadian Bank of laundering money from drugs and other operations for clients tied to Hezbollah.
Billigslea noted that the U.S. Treasury Department is ready to pay 10 million U.S. dollars, for any party that helps in giving financial information about Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Billingslea praised Lebanese banks for their efforts in fighting against terrorism financing in addition to their commitment to international banking standards.
The U.S. official arrived in Beirut on Sunday evening and met earlier Monday, with Lebanese Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, and then Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, in addition to meeting with the board of directors of the Association of Lebanese banks.– NNN-NNA