Connelly Says Lebanon Should Steer Clear of Events in Syria to Keep Stability
U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly has said Lebanon should be kept away from the “negative repercussions” of the situation in Syria stressing on the importance of Lebanese stability.
In remarks to al-Balad daily on Wednesday, Connelly said the U.S. agenda on Lebanon hasn’t changed. It calls for a stable, independent and sovereign Lebanon.
But the deterioration in the situation in Syria and the regime’s crackdown on protestors has led the U.S. to stress the importance of stability in Lebanon, she said.
Connelly told al-Balad that the U.S. supports institutional building in Lebanon at the level of the state and civil society.
Asked about U.S. military assistance to Lebanon, the ambassador said she was waiting to see the results of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji’s visit to Washington.
Qahwaji ended his visit to the U.S. on Tuesday. An Nahar daily said that he explained to U.S. officials about the needs of the Lebanese army.
The officials appreciated the role of the Lebanese army leadership in consolidating the military, the newspaper said.
It added that “they held onto their country’s decision to develop the program of special assistance to the Lebanese army.”
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