Joseph Akouri American ambassador to Beirut, succeeding Richard

25/5/2017

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

Beirut - Middle East Times Int'l: The US ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard is packing her bags to return to her country based on diplomatic transfers carried out by President Donald Trump’s administration in line with its new political orientation, which is contrary to its predecessor, Barack Obama. This step comes a year after the Senate’s ratification of her appointment in the diplomatic post on May 17, 2016.

It is expected that Richard will begin her farewell tour on the presidents and political officials. Media sources said that the person proposed for the mission to succeed the current ambassador is the Lebanese American origin Joseph Akouri. According to Western diplomatic sources he has the most important elements to follow the important US diplomatic process in Beirut at this particular stage.