Ambassador Connelly’s Statement Following Her Meeting with General Aoun.

June 29, 2011

The following is Ambassador Connelly’s statement following her meeting with General Michel Aoun:

“Good morning. Thank you very much.
I would like to thank General Aoun for seeing us today. It was a very useful meeting, a very interesting meeting. We, of course, discussed the new government and I repeated the US decision which is we will judge the new government by its composition, its ministerial statement and the actions it takes. And of course I reiterated our expectation that the new government will continue to respect Lebanon’s international obligations including those related to the Security Council resolution 1701 and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

I also raised with General Aoun concerns regarding accusations made by his coalition partner against the US Embassy. We view these accusations as an attempt to deflect attention away from internal tensions in Hizballah. I relayed our view as well that we expect the Syrian regime to engage in meaningful dialogue with its opposition and we support the right of the Syrian people to free expression and we want to see the regime end its suppression of that right.
I also noted the positive steps taken by the Lebanese authorities to fulfill Lebanon’s international obligations to protect Syrian citizens who cross into Lebanon to flee the violence in Syria. Thank you very much.”

Ambassador Connelly Meets Incoming Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel.

On June 23, 2011 U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with incoming Minister of Interior and Municipalities Marwan Charbel. The Ambassador and Minister Charbel discussed the overall security situation in Lebanon and the continuing cooperation between the U.S. and the Interior Ministry to train and equip Lebanon’s law enforcement agencies.
SOURCE: EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES.BEIRUT

Lebanese Cadets Appointed to U.S. Military Academies.

June 9, 2011
Two Lebanese cadets have received appointments to study at U.S. military academies. Cadet Rami Kanaan, who graduated from Jedeideh Official High School, will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy and Midshipman Roland al Ahmar, who graduated from Sagesse High School, will attend the U.S. Naval Academy. U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with the General Kahwaji and the two cadets in General Kahwaji’s office at the LAF headquarters to congratulate them on their appointments.

Rami and Roland will depart in the summer of 2011 to begin their studies, and will spend four years studying with their American counterparts. After graduation, they will return to Lebanon where they will be commissioned as lieutenants in the Lebanese Armed Forces. Both cadets were selected from the top students at Lebanese military academies by the LAF. There are currently six Lebanese cadets attending military academies in the U.S.: three at the U.S. Naval Academy, two at West Point, and one at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
The U.S. has provided over $720 million in support to the LAF since 2006 for equipment and training. The U.S. continues to offer training, engagements and exercises to the LAF in all fields. The United States is committed to helping the LAF develop its capabilities and will continue to support the LAF as they continue their efforts to safeguard the stability, unity and sovereignty of Lebanon.
SOURCE: EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, BEIRUT.LEBANON

Ambassador Connelly Visits ISF Headquarters, Meets General Rifi.

On June 1, 2011, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly attended the monthly liaison meeting convened by the Directorate General of Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) for foreign embassies in Lebanon at ISF headquarters. After the meeting, Ambassador Connelly and ISF Director General Major General Ashraf Rifi discussed the overall security situation in Lebanon and the continuing cooperation between the U.S. and the ISF to train and equip Lebanon’s national police force.
SOURCE: EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, BEIRUT.LEBANON

Ambassador Connelly Meets Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri.

On June 1, 2011 U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. The Ambassador discussed with Speaker Berri the ongoing political developments in Lebanon, including the need for Lebanese government institutions to work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other international organizations to fulfill Lebanon's obligations under international law to provide protection to Syrian citizens fleeing the violence in Syria.

Ambassador Connelly also reiterated the U.S.’s view that the international community will assess its relationship with any new government of Lebanon based on the make-up of the next cabinet, its ministerial statement and the actions it takes in regard to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and Lebanon’s other international obligations. The Ambassador reconfirmed that the United States considers the make-up of Lebanon’s government to be strictly a Lebanese decision and called on all parties in Lebanon to protect the government formation process from any external interference.
SOURCE: EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, BEIRUT.LEBANON