Monday, April 30, 2012

Secretary Clinton's Call with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 30, 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman during an April 29 telephone conversation. Secretary Clinton and President Sleiman discussed regional developments, including the crisis in Syria. The Secretary emphasized the United States' commitment to a stable, independent, and sovereign Lebanon.
 

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Dibble Visits Lebanon

April 26, 2012 - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Elizabeth Dibble completed her 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.
Ms. Dibble had meetings with Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abou Faour, United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly, and March 14 political leaders in addition to representatives of President Michel Sleiman and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Nabih Berri.
In her meetings, Ms. Dibble underscored the U.S. position that Syrian President Bashar Asad must fully implement the Annan plan. She expressed the United States' deep concern for the plight of the Syrian people, including those who have fled violence in Lebanon. She welcomed the Lebanese government's actions, in coordination with the international community, to provide humanitarian assistance and encouraged greater combined efforts to reach the most at-risk among them. She further stressed U.S. concerns that developments in Syria not contribute to instability in Lebanon.
She met with Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea yesterday where she reiterated the United States government's condemnation of the assassination attempt targeting Dr. Geagea. She stressed our steadfast support for ending impunity for political assassinations in Lebanon, including through our strong support for the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Ms. Dibble renewed the United States' commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon. She underscored the U.S. Administration's support to strengthening Lebanon and its 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.

Friday, April 20, 2012

U.S. Ambassador Meets with Prime Minister

April 20 2012
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati today at the Prime Minister's offices at the Grand Serail. They discussed areas of cooperation between the two countries and regional events.
She renewed the commitment of the United States to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

ARCENT Commander Visits Lebanon

April 17, 2012
Army Central Command (ARCENT) Commander Lieutenant General Vincent K. Brooks visited Lebanon today and met with Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Kahwagi and other senior military officials.
In his meetings, Lieutenant General Brooks emphasized the strong and sustained military cooperation between the two countries, including the full range of military assistance, as well as U.S. support for Lebanon's initiatives to implement its obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701.
Lieutenant General Brooks renewed the United States' commitment to a stable, sovereign, and independent Lebanon. He remarked on the U.S. Military's ongoing support in strengthening the professional capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to serve the Lebanese people as the sole legitimate defense force to secure Lebanon's borders and defend the sovereignty and independence of the state.

 

Thursday, April 05, 2012

Assassination Attempt Against Samir Geagea

Press Statement
Mark C. Toner
Acting Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
 Washington, DC
April 5, 2012

The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to be an assassination attempt targeting Lebanese politician Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces party, on April 4. While we do not know who was behind the attack at this time, we are deeply concerned that Mr. Geagea may have been targeted because of his outspoken criticism of the Assad regime's murderous repression and Hizballah's destabilizing actions in Lebanon. We call on the Government of Lebanon to thoroughly investigate this incident.

Lebanon and the international community have sought to bring about an end to impunity for political assassinations with the 2009 establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) to investigate the assassinations of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and other public figures from 2004 to 2007. The United States reiterates its strong support for the work of the STL. We call on the Government of Lebanon to cooperate fully with the Tribunal, including arresting those named in the 2011 indictment and providing funding to the Tribunal's operations for 2012.

U.S. Ambassador Meets with President

April 5, 2012
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with President Michel Sleiman at the President's offices in Baabda today.  Ambassador Connelly shared with President Sleiman highlights from the discussions she had in Washington last month as part of the Secretary of State's annual conference with all U.S. Ambassadors worldwide.  They also discussed areas of cooperation between the two countries. 
Ambassador Connelly further conveyed to President Sleiman the deep concern of the United States at the reports of an assassination attempt on a leading Lebanese political figure, noting that Lebanon's embrace of and support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon demonstrates it has definitively rejected such practices.