Statement by Ambassador Michele J. Sison after Meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri

October 28, 2009 Speaker Berri and I just concluded a meeting in which I reiterated the U.S. government's commitment to supporting the institutions of the state of Lebanon, including the parliament. We have worked with the parliament in the past to support its institutional capacity, and we hope to continue this cooperation in the future. We also discussed current developments. It is important that the government formation process be resolved as soon as possible. The shape and composition of the government is, of course, a Lebanese matter. We look forward to working with a Lebanese government that works actively to promote stability in the region and prosperity for its people.

We strongly condemn last night's rocket launch, which is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701. The recent series of incidents, including the explosion of the Hizballah weapons depot on July 14, a similar rocket attack on September 11, the October 12 incident in Tayr Falsayh, as well as last night’s incident, highlights the urgent need to extend the state’s control over all of Lebanon’s territory, to disarm all militias, and for the international community to continue supporting UNIFIL and its mission

Embassy Of The United States. Beirut. Lebanon - Press Release