Monday, December 19, 2011

Ambassador Connelly Visits Bkerki

December 16, 2011 - U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly visited Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Rai today at his office in the Bkerki and exchanged views about developments in Lebanon and the region.

Ambassador Connelly explored the Patriarch's vision about the best means to protect the rights of Christian and minority communities in the Middle East. She welcomed efforts by all faith communities in Lebanon to build bridges of greater understanding among religious groups.

Ambassador Connelly underscored the United States' belief that the violence in Syria is not a result of sectarian strife, but rather an outcome of the brutality of the Syrian regime. As such, she shared the United States' support for the principle that the universal human rights of all communities and people of all faiths must be protected by their governments. She also urged the Patriarch to support international and regional efforts to end the brutality of the Syrian regime against the Syrian people.

Friday, December 16, 2011

U.S.-Trained ISF Officers Graduate

On December 16, 2011, the joint U.S. and Internal Security Forces Community Policing training program held a graduation for over 100 ISF officers. The Community Policing program is an eight-week training course taught by U.S. and Lebanese police instructors with the assistance of legal professionals.
ISF officers learn the latest policing, law enforcement, and community relations skills and how to implement them effectively in real situations.
U.S. Embassy Director of the International Law Enforcement Programs Office, Vincent Carver, spoke at the ceremony and congratulated the graduates. Mr. Carver underscored the community policing model, which promotes the development of partnerships between law enforcement and the Lebanese people and institutions they serve in order to increase trust and confidence in the police and address the underlying causes of crime by developing solutions to problems facing the community at large.
The United States' $132 million multi-year law enforcement assistance program in Lebanon is designed to support reform in the Lebanese law enforcement sector by strengthening the capacity of the Internal Security Forces to enforce the rule of law in Lebanon and to protect the Lebanese people. A professional and responsive police force also strengthens Lebanon's sovereignty, independence and stability.
The U.S. assistance program strengthens the ISF and is part of the overall U.S. security assistance program to Lebanon. Since 2008, U.S. instruction teams have trained over 7600 ISF members.
 

Friday, December 09, 2011

Lebanon: Attack on UN Peacekeepers

Taken Question
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 9, 2011
Question: Any Comment on today's attack on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon?
Answer: The United States strongly supports the UN peacekeeping operation in Southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) and condemns Friday's roadside bomb attack. This is the third terrorist attack on UN forces in Lebanon this year and we call on the Lebanese government to immediately investigate and bring those responsible to account for this reprehensible attack.
We again strongly underscore the need for Lebanon to exercise full sovereignty over its territory.
As part of its international obligations under UNSCR 1701, Lebanon must ensure its armed forces serve as Lebanon's sole defense force with a monopoly on the use of force and the possession of arms. All other armed groups should be disarmed, as required in UNSCR 1559 and 1701.
 

Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman Completes Visit to Lebanon

December 8, 2011 - Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman completed his visit to Lebanon today and met with senior officials to discuss the political and security situation in Lebanon, developments in Syria, and other regional issues.
Assistant Secretary Feltman and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with President of the Chamber of Deputies Speaker Nabih Berri, Maronite Patriarch Mar Bachara al-Rai, former Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutrous Sfeir, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt, Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Kahwagi, Internal Security Forces Commander Major General Ashraf Rifi, and former Minister of Defense Elias El Murr. Assistant Secretary Feltman and Ambassador Connelly met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati yesterday.
He renewed the United States' commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon. Assistant Secretary Feltman underscored the U.S. Administration's support for strengthening Lebanon and Lebanon's institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, recognizing its importance in serving as Lebanon's sole legitimate defense force, securing Lebanon's borders and defending the sovereignty and independence of the state.
He noted the importance of Lebanon's continued cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and of Lebanon upholding its international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701.
Assistant Secretary Feltman met with Patriarch al-Rai and exchanged views on developments in Lebanon and the region. As he has done with many others during his visit, Assistant Secretary Feltman discussed with Patriarch al-Rai the United States' support for the principle that the universal human rights of all communities and people of all faiths must be protected by their governments. He also urged the Patriarch to support international and regional efforts to end the brutality of the Syrian regime against the Syrian people. He reaffirmed to the Patriarch the United States' firm view that Syrian President Bashar al-Asad has lost his legitimacy to lead and the best way to end the brutality is for Asad to step down.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman Visits Lebanon

December 7, 2011- Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman arrived in Lebanon today and met with senior officials to discuss the political and security situation in Lebanon, developments in Syria, and other regional issues.

Ambassador Feltman and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and delivered a letter from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcoming Lebanon's action to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He noted the importance of Lebanon's continued cooperation with the Tribunal and of Lebanon upholding its international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701.

He renewed the United States' commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon. Ambassador Feltman underscored the U.S. Administration's support to strengthening Lebanon and Lebanon's institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, recognizing its importance in serving as Lebanon's sole legitimate defense force, securing Lebanon's borders and defending the sovereignty and independence of the state.

Ambassador Feltman discussed regional developments with the Prime Minister, consulting with him on a range of issues, including the situation in Syria. Ambassador Feltman shared the grave concerns of the United States for the people of Syria and our desire to see the Syrian government end its brutality against them immediately. He highlighted U.S. concerns that developments in Syria not contribute to instability in Lebanon or in other countries in the region.

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Deputy Assistant Secretary Kelly Clements Visits Lebanon

December 1, 2011- Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugee, and Migration Affairs Kelly Clements visited Lebanon today and met with senior officials to discuss and monitor the status of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees and Syrians present in Lebanon. This is Ms. Clements' first visit to Lebanon as Deputy Assistant Secretary.
Ms. Clements had meetings with Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abou Faour, Higher Relief Council Secretary General General Ibrahim Bachir, and senior officials from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
In her meetings, Ms. Clements underscored the important responsibility of Lebanon and the international community to address the humanitarian needs and to ensure the safety of Syrians who have fled to Lebanon. She reiterated the United States' continuing commitment to Palestinian and Iraqi refugees in the region. Ms. Clements further renewed the commitment of the United States to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.
As the largest bilateral donor to UNRWA, the U.S. government provided $249 million for UNRWA's regional programs this year in addition to $119 million the United States has provided over the past four years to rebuild and develop the Naher el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. Working with local partners, the United States provided this year $6.9 million in support of health care, humanitarian assistance, and employment programs for Iraqi refugees in Lebanon.

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Congressman Steve Chabot Reacts to Lebanese Tribunal Funding

Washington: Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, released the following statement today regarding Lebanese funding of the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
"I welcome reports of Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati's decision to fund the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) in accordance with Lebanon's obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1757. At the same time, I have noted that these funds came directly from the Prime Minister's Office through the Higher Relief Committee over which PM Mikati has personal control. But Lebanon's commitments to the STL extend beyond simply meeting its funding obligations, and the entire government must cooperate fully by, among other measures, assisting with the investigation and handing over those individuals indicted by the Tribunal. These, along with exercising full control over sovereign Lebanese territory, halting smuggling, protecting Syrian opposition members residing in Lebanon, and disarming all militias—including Hezbollah—are crucial Lebanese international legal obligations and will be key factors in determining future relations between the United States and Lebanon. I am pleased that the Government of Lebanon has met its financial obligations to the STL and I urge it to meet these other critically important commitments, which will determine what kind of relationship the Mikati government can maintain with the United States."

Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

Susan E. Rice
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York, NY
December 1, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The United States welcomes the Government of Lebanon's decision to uphold the country's financial responsibility to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The Special Tribunal is an important vehicle for advancing accountability within Lebanon's political culture. This decision illustrates Lebanon's commitment to its international obligations, and the United States remains committed to assisting the Government of Lebanon in its full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1701 and 1757. The United States pledges to continue to support the Special Tribunal's work, including through participation in the Management Committee.

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U.S. Ambassador Meets with Prime Minister

November 30, 2011- U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati today at the Prime Minister's offices at the Grand Serail. The Ambassador and Prime Minister discussed the political and security situation in Lebanon and the current situation in Syria.

Ambassador Connelly welcomed Prime Minister Mikati's action to fund Lebanon's share of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. She noted that Lebanon's commitments to the Tribunal extend beyond the issue of funding alone and fulfilling these commitments are important indicators of the government's commitment to both Lebanon's interests and its international obligations.

She further condemned the firing of rockets from southern Lebanon into Israel on November 29, which constituted a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and stressed that Lebanon should take all necessary measures to support the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon's investigation. She called on all parties to respect the Blue Line and exercise restraint and reiterated the United States' call for Lebanon to ensure its armed forces serve as Lebanon's sole defense force which is capable of securing its borders and defending the sovereignty and independence of the state.

Ambassador Connelly also expressed the United States' concern for the plight of Syrian refugees and displaced persons in Lebanon and encouraged the government to work closely with the international community to address their humanitarian needs and ensure their safety.

She renewed the commitment of the United States to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.