Feltman to Leb.: Openness to Syria Part of New US Policy
Readers Number : 123
06/03/2009 US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, and top Middle East officer at the US National Security Council Daniel Shapiro arrived on Thursday to Beirut ahead of a visit to neighboring Syria on Saturday following the pledge by President Barack Obama's administration to engage US foes.
"My visit here today underscores an important reality - the United States' support for a sovereign and independent Lebanon remains unwavering," Jeffrey Feltman told reporters after meeting with President Michel Sleiman as well as the country's premier and foreign minister.
The former US ambassador to Lebanon said Washington's overtures to Syria was in line with the policy of new US President Barack Obama to engage states in the region, including foes. "The president has said he wants to sustain in principle engagement with all states in the region and that includes Syria," said Feltman, who is acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs.
However, he stressed that Washington had a "long list" of concerns that he and fellow envoy Daniel Shapiro planned to discuss with Syrian officials when they meet on Saturday. "Our trip to Syria ... is an opportunity for us to start addressing these concerns and using engagement as a tool to promote our objectives in the region," Feltman said.
"We'll talk to the Syrians about many many issues but about Lebanon, the message is clear: The US and the international community ... all agree Lebanon is for the Lebanese," he added. "That's the basic message."
Feltman and Shapiro, the National Security Council's senior director for the Middle East and North Africa, arrived on Thursday. They first met the head of Future movement MP Saad Hariri, the son and political heir of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, who was killed in a massive Beirut car bombing in 2005.
Feltman said it was appropriate to meet first with Hariri as an international tribunal to try the killers of his father is in its first week of operation in The Hague. "The United States welcomes this important step towards ending impunity for political assassinations in Lebanon and as a concrete sign that Lebanon's sovereignty is non-negotiable," he said.
He also hailed the June 7 legislative election in Lebanon. "This will be an important milestone in Lebanese history," he said. "The United States will support the Lebanese authorities' efforts to ensure that they are free, fair, transparent and unmarred by political violence."
Feltman and Shapiro are due to head to Syria on Saturday before returning to Beirut that same evening. They are expected to leave Lebanon on Monday.
Readers Number : 123
06/03/2009 US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, and top Middle East officer at the US National Security Council Daniel Shapiro arrived on Thursday to Beirut ahead of a visit to neighboring Syria on Saturday following the pledge by President Barack Obama's administration to engage US foes.
"My visit here today underscores an important reality - the United States' support for a sovereign and independent Lebanon remains unwavering," Jeffrey Feltman told reporters after meeting with President Michel Sleiman as well as the country's premier and foreign minister.
The former US ambassador to Lebanon said Washington's overtures to Syria was in line with the policy of new US President Barack Obama to engage states in the region, including foes. "The president has said he wants to sustain in principle engagement with all states in the region and that includes Syria," said Feltman, who is acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs.
However, he stressed that Washington had a "long list" of concerns that he and fellow envoy Daniel Shapiro planned to discuss with Syrian officials when they meet on Saturday. "Our trip to Syria ... is an opportunity for us to start addressing these concerns and using engagement as a tool to promote our objectives in the region," Feltman said.
"We'll talk to the Syrians about many many issues but about Lebanon, the message is clear: The US and the international community ... all agree Lebanon is for the Lebanese," he added. "That's the basic message."
Feltman and Shapiro, the National Security Council's senior director for the Middle East and North Africa, arrived on Thursday. They first met the head of Future movement MP Saad Hariri, the son and political heir of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, who was killed in a massive Beirut car bombing in 2005.
Feltman said it was appropriate to meet first with Hariri as an international tribunal to try the killers of his father is in its first week of operation in The Hague. "The United States welcomes this important step towards ending impunity for political assassinations in Lebanon and as a concrete sign that Lebanon's sovereignty is non-negotiable," he said.
He also hailed the June 7 legislative election in Lebanon. "This will be an important milestone in Lebanese history," he said. "The United States will support the Lebanese authorities' efforts to ensure that they are free, fair, transparent and unmarred by political violence."
Feltman and Shapiro are due to head to Syria on Saturday before returning to Beirut that same evening. They are expected to leave Lebanon on Monday.
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