Statement by Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman After Meeting with President Suleiman

I have just come from meeting with President Suleiman where we had a very productive conversation about the current situation in Lebanon. I joined Ambassador Connelly to deliver a message from President Obama that reaffirmed the steadfast support of the United States to the development of a sovereign, independent Lebanon, with strong and effective state institutions. The United States is committed to helping Lebanon build strong state institutions through our security and economic assistance programs. A strong, sovereign, and stable Lebanon is in the vital interests of the Lebanese people, the region, the United States and the international community, and we are concerned by any act that would undermine this sovereignty and stability.

President Obama firmly supports the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, as does the rest of the international community. The Tribunal is a non-political, independent organization that was formed by an agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Lebanon in order to end the era of impunity for political assassinations in Lebanon. We believe that the Tribunal should be allowed to complete its work on its own timeline and without outside interference until those responsible for the assassinations of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and others are brought to justice.