The Bush administration has quietly opened a new diplomatic front in its efforts to free Lebanon from Syrian influence, with a move to undermine the authority of the country's pro-Syria president. The behind-the-scenes campaign began to bear fruit last month when the State Department sought and won the replacement of Lebanon's ambassador to the United States, Farid Abboud, an ally of President Emile Lahoud who had served in Washington for eight years, officials said.The Lebanese foreign ministry, run by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's Western-backed government, transferred Abboud to Tunisia and chose career diplomat Antoine Chedid to succeed him in Washington. But Lahoud, the country's head of state, has refused to sign Chedid's letter of accreditation, meaning he is not considered an ambassador. On Thursday, though, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice took the unusual step of inviting Chedid to her office to personally welcome him to the United States, effectively recognizing the diplomat as Lebanon's ambassador and here, although his official title is Charge d'Affaires. "It's good to receive you on behalf of the democratic government of Lebanon," Rice said in comments seen as a slight to Lahoud and Abboud, whom the administration had snubbed for years. "I am sure we will have very close contacts because the United States is and wants to be a friend of a free and sovereign Lebanon."
Chedid, who has previously served in Washington and is well-known and admired as a professional here, replied by making clear he represents Siniora's embattled government and that he was honored by his reception since arriving in late July.
An official with the Lebanese Embassy declined to discuss the circumstances of Chedid's appointment but noted that the envoy already held the rank of ambassador in Lebanon's foreign service and that matters of protocol would not interfere with his mission. In addition to Rice, Chedid met Thursday with the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, David Welch, and Iraq coordinator David Satterfield, both of whom he knows from previous jobs. He will also soon see President Bush's national security adviser Stephen Hadley, officials said.
One U.S. official familiar with the situation said the slew of high-level meetings accorded Chedid is intended as both a signal of support for Siniora's government and a diplomatic slap in the face to Lahoud, whose term in office is due to end in November.
Washington has long sought to bolster Siniora and reduce Syria's role in Lebanon. Earlier this month, Bush signed an executive order letting the U.S. freeze the assets of anyone deemed to be working to destabilize efforts to promote Lebanese security and sovereignty.