Secretary's Remarks: Lebanon's National Day‏.

November 20, 2010. On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Lebanon on the anniversary of your independence this November 22.

The Lebanese people have honored the ideals of freedom and self-determination throughout decades of strife and external pressures. The United States and Lebanon have a long history of friendship and cooperation in the face of such challenges. I was delighted to experience that friendship in person last year during my visit to your country to express our steadfast support for Lebanon and the Lebanese people.

Today, we again affirm the commitment of the United States to an independent, sovereign, and unified Lebanon with strong and effective state institutions. We firmly believe that preserving a peaceful, prosperous, democratic, and stable Lebanon is essential for the security of the Lebanese people, and for the region more broadly.

I wish the people of Lebanon a happy independence day. We will continue working to deepen cooperation between our countries and build a future defined by freedom, security, and prosperity for all people.