Chargé Mills Meets Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel

June 18, 2012 - Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Richard M. Mills, Jr., met with Minister of Interior and Municipalities Marwan Charbel today at the Minister's offices in Hamra. Mr. Mills and the Minister discussed the political and security situation in Lebanon and the current situation in Syria. They also discussed U.S. support for training the Internal Security Forces and the issue of trafficking-in-persons.
Mr. Mills highlighted the issue of trafficking-in-persons and global efforts to combat it. He welcomed the Lebanese government's enactment of an anti-trafficking law and encouraged the government to implement the law and to undertake further efforts to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute violators.
Mr. Mills further expressed the United States' dedication to strengthening the Internal Security Forces (ISF) as a modern professional police force that serves and protects all of Lebanon's citizens. He expressed the United States' appreciation for the efforts of the ISF and the Lebanese Armed Forces to work together to maintain calm in Lebanon. Mr. Mills underscored that the U.S. remains concerned that developments in Syria not contribute to instability in Lebanon.
He renewed the commitment of the United States to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.