Statement by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly After Meeting with Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
January 16, 2011
I met just finished a meeting with Prime Minister Hariri during which we discussed the Prime Minister’s recent meeting with President Obama. I reiterated President Obama’s appreciation for the Prime Minister’s steadfast leadership and efforts to reach peace, stability, and consensus in Lebanon under difficult circumstances. I thanked Prime Minister Hariri for his continued leadership and statesmanship in helping guide Lebanon through this difficult period.
The United States reiterates its call to all political factions to maintain calm and exercise restraint at this critical time. We urge all the parties in Lebanon to work together to find a solution for the numerous issues that face of the Lebanese people. It is now more important than ever that all sides commit to constructive dialogue and avoid escalating tensions in the country.
We also discussed the United States’ continuing commitment to work with the Prime Minister as head of Lebanon’s caretaker government in all areas of our bilateral cooperation and assistance. We discussed the importance of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and its continuing work to assist the Lebanese people put its tragic and bloody history of political violence behind it once and for all. The Tribunal is an independent, international judicial process whose work is not subject to political influence -- either from inside Lebanon or from outside. The efforts by the Hizballah-led coalition to collapse the Lebanese government only demonstrate their own fear and determination to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.
I met just finished a meeting with Prime Minister Hariri during which we discussed the Prime Minister’s recent meeting with President Obama. I reiterated President Obama’s appreciation for the Prime Minister’s steadfast leadership and efforts to reach peace, stability, and consensus in Lebanon under difficult circumstances. I thanked Prime Minister Hariri for his continued leadership and statesmanship in helping guide Lebanon through this difficult period.
The United States reiterates its call to all political factions to maintain calm and exercise restraint at this critical time. We urge all the parties in Lebanon to work together to find a solution for the numerous issues that face of the Lebanese people. It is now more important than ever that all sides commit to constructive dialogue and avoid escalating tensions in the country.
We also discussed the United States’ continuing commitment to work with the Prime Minister as head of Lebanon’s caretaker government in all areas of our bilateral cooperation and assistance. We discussed the importance of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and its continuing work to assist the Lebanese people put its tragic and bloody history of political violence behind it once and for all. The Tribunal is an independent, international judicial process whose work is not subject to political influence -- either from inside Lebanon or from outside. The efforts by the Hizballah-led coalition to collapse the Lebanese government only demonstrate their own fear and determination to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.
posted by philippe at 6:23 AM
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