Beirut - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
concluded Sunday a three-hour visit to Beirut by stressing that
Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary election must be 'free from foreign
meddling.'
Clinton, who arrived unannounced in Beirut amid tight security
measures, stressed that she was in Lebanon 'to send a clear message
for fair and transparent elections' which would be crucial for an
'independent and sovereign Lebanon.'
'The polls must be held outside the circle of violence and foreign
meddling to allow the people to choose their representatives
peacefully,' Clinton said after meeting Lebanese President Michel
Suleiman.
Lebanon's parliamentary elections are set for June 7. The race
will be tight between the western-backed ruling majority and the
Hezbollah-led opposition.
It was Clinton's first visit to Lebanon since taking office.
She said the purpose of her trip was to 'deliver a message of
support for an independent and sovereign Lebanon' to Suleiman from
President Barack Obama.
The top US diplomat reiterated her country's support of the
Lebanese Army saying UN resolutions clearly state the military as
the 'sole establishment that must have weapons control.'
The United States has provided $1 billion in aid since 2006,
including $410 million for military assistance.
Clinton added that the US backed Suleiman's efforts 'to build a
peaceful, prosperous, sovereign and democratic Lebanon.'
She was accompanied on the visit by Acting Assistant Secretary of
State for Near Eastern Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, a former ambassador
to Beirut.
After her meeting with Suleiman, Clinton visited the tomb of slain
former premier Rafik Hariri and was met by his son, parliamentarian
Saad Hariri.
'We back the UN international tribunal in the assassination of
premier Hariri,' Clinton was quoted as Hariri, head of the ruling
majority.
Hariri's February 2005 assassination, blamed by many people in
Lebanon on Damascus, triggered massive demonstrations which put an
end to years of Syrian control over Lebanon.
Clinton stressed that her country supports 'the voices of
moderation.'
According to a Lebanese government official, Clinton reassured
Lebanese leaders that that US efforts to engage in talks with Syria
and Iran would not come at their expense.
Syria and Iran are the main backers of Lebanese Shiite movement,
which the United States considers a terrorist organization.
The United States and their Arab allies, like Saudi Arabia, are
strong supporters of Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and the anti-Syrian
Sunni-led coalition that holds a majority in parliament.
Prior to her arrival in Lebanon, the new US Secretary of State had
been in Kuwait and Iraq. In Baghdad on Saturday, she had met with top
Iraqi leaders and assured them of continued US support for Iraq even
as it withdrew combat troops.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story