Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Ambassador Connelly Meets with MP Michel Aoun

July 30, 2013
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with Free Patriotic Leader MP Michel Aoun today to discuss the political and security situation in Lebanon, as well as other regional issues.
Ambassador Connelly said that government formation is a Lebanese process and that the Lebanese people deserve a government that reflects their aspirations and strengthens Lebanon's stability, sovereignty, and independence while fulfilling its international obligations.  She noted the U.S. hoped to see a formation of a government with which the United States would be able to work more closely.
Ambassador Connelly regretted the failure of some parties to respect the Baabda Declaration and noted that interference in Syria by those parties endanger Lebanon's sovereignty, stability, and security.
The Ambassador commended the European Union's recent decision to designate Hizballah, which sends a strong message that Hizballah cannot operate with impunity and there are consequences for its actions, such as the Burgas bombing and its terrorist plot in Cyprus.