Statement by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michele J. Sison After Her Farewell Call with President Michel Sleiman
August 6, 2010 Today, I had the honor to pay a farewell call on His Excellency President Michel Sleiman. I had the opportunity to express my pride in and gratitude for the cooperation and partnership we have enjoyed with Lebanon and the Lebanese people during my time here as U.S. Ambassador. I conveyed to President Sleiman once again today the United States’ strong support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and stability.
During my time in Lebanon, the U.S. government has deepened our partnerships with the Lebanese government to help build the strong state institutions that must act as the guarantor of Lebanon’s future. A strong, sovereign, stable Lebanon at peace with its neighbors is in everyone's interest -- the Lebanese, the region, and the international community.
As we saw earlier this week, regional tensions can threaten Lebanon’s continuing stability. We regret the loss of life on both sides. This terrible and tragic event reminds us once again that we must all work for progress toward the permanent ceasefire that UNSCR 1701 demands. The United States continues to call on all parties to work to diminish these tensions. First and foremost, the United States is committed to achieving a lasting, comprehensive, and sustainable peace in the Middle East. Lebanon’s security and stability cannot be separated from this process.
Our support for Lebanon, through our security and economic development programs, is focused on supporting the Lebanese state to increase its ability to exercise its sovereignty over the entire country. We should not lose sight of the important successes that the United States and Lebanon have achieved together. Our assistance has supported strengthening the police and army, helping build Lebanon’s educational system, providing economic opportunities to Lebanon’s citizens, developing Lebanon’s water resources, and building Lebanon’s judicial training capacities, to name only a few areas of our countries’ successful cooperation. I look forward to following the results of this multifaceted cooperation even after my departure from Lebanon.
As I did when I first arrived in Beirut, I want to reaffirm the United States’ unwavering support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The Tribunal was established by the international community to put an end to the impunity of political assassination in Lebanon and to bring to justice those responsible for committing such heinous crimes aimed at undermining Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.
While I depart Lebanon soon, the U.S.-Lebanese partnership will endure. I depart Lebanon knowing that the strength, resilience, and ingenuity of the Lebanese people will help guarantee the gains Lebanon has made over the past few years. I depart Lebanon knowing that the United States remains unshaken in its commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty - not just in word, but also in deed. Most of all, I depart Lebanon knowing that partnership between the Lebanese and American peoples grows deeper and stronger each day.
During my time in Lebanon, the U.S. government has deepened our partnerships with the Lebanese government to help build the strong state institutions that must act as the guarantor of Lebanon’s future. A strong, sovereign, stable Lebanon at peace with its neighbors is in everyone's interest -- the Lebanese, the region, and the international community.
As we saw earlier this week, regional tensions can threaten Lebanon’s continuing stability. We regret the loss of life on both sides. This terrible and tragic event reminds us once again that we must all work for progress toward the permanent ceasefire that UNSCR 1701 demands. The United States continues to call on all parties to work to diminish these tensions. First and foremost, the United States is committed to achieving a lasting, comprehensive, and sustainable peace in the Middle East. Lebanon’s security and stability cannot be separated from this process.
Our support for Lebanon, through our security and economic development programs, is focused on supporting the Lebanese state to increase its ability to exercise its sovereignty over the entire country. We should not lose sight of the important successes that the United States and Lebanon have achieved together. Our assistance has supported strengthening the police and army, helping build Lebanon’s educational system, providing economic opportunities to Lebanon’s citizens, developing Lebanon’s water resources, and building Lebanon’s judicial training capacities, to name only a few areas of our countries’ successful cooperation. I look forward to following the results of this multifaceted cooperation even after my departure from Lebanon.
As I did when I first arrived in Beirut, I want to reaffirm the United States’ unwavering support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The Tribunal was established by the international community to put an end to the impunity of political assassination in Lebanon and to bring to justice those responsible for committing such heinous crimes aimed at undermining Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.
While I depart Lebanon soon, the U.S.-Lebanese partnership will endure. I depart Lebanon knowing that the strength, resilience, and ingenuity of the Lebanese people will help guarantee the gains Lebanon has made over the past few years. I depart Lebanon knowing that the United States remains unshaken in its commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty - not just in word, but also in deed. Most of all, I depart Lebanon knowing that partnership between the Lebanese and American peoples grows deeper and stronger each day.
posted by philippe at 5:29 PM
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