State Department on Arab intiative

Daily Press Briefing
Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman, Department of State
Washington, DC
February 6, 2008

QUESTION: What's your position toward the Arab initiative in Lebanon to elect a new president, General Sleiman, as the new president?

MR. CASEY: Well, you know, we, first of all, want to see a resolution to this longstanding political dispute, but we wish it to be done in a way that represents the wishes of the Lebanese people. Certainly, we're supportive of efforts to help resolve that. But again, I want to emphasize that this needs to be a Lebanese solution and shouldn't be imposed by us or by the Arab League or by anyone outside.

QUESTION: That means – do you – are you still backing the Arab initiative or not?

MR. CASEY: It means we want to continue to work with the Arab League and the Arab initiative to try and help the Lebanese work through this problem.