U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Wednesday pressed Lebanese lawmakers to swiftly elect a strong president, while insisting the election be free from foreign interference.
"I have to say the current political stalemate here in Lebanon is deeply troubling. It's unfortunate that Parliament could not elect a president on schedule as the Lebanese Constitution requires," Kerry said. “And now it is far more important for the vacancy to be filled so the people of Lebanon can reap the benefits of a fully constituted, fully empowered government. That is important to Lebanon, it's also important to the region, and it's important for those who support Lebanon."
The secretary said his country would continue its support to Lebanese security forces to calm tensions and secure the borders of Lebanon, which has suffered spillover violence from the Syrian civil war.
"Lebanon's obviously much more than a beautiful country - which it is. It's a very important country. It's very important to the security of the region and beyond."
Kerry called on Syrian President Bashar Assad's allies to help bring the war to an end.
"I call on ... Iran, Russia, and I call on Hezbollah, based right here in Lebanon, to engage in a legitimate effort to bring this war to an end," Kerry said.
Hezbollah admitted last year that it was sending fighters into Syria, and while Iran has denied it has done the same, it is widely believed to be funding and supporting Assad’s war effort.
The secretary pledged an additional $290M in assistance for Syrian crisis response. Lebanon will receive $51M, Kerry said.
"I also call on the international donors who have made pledges to deliver on those pledges. It is important, critically important to support Lebanon and to support others in the regions who are suffering the consequences of this humanitarian crisis," he said. "It is important for all of us to recognize the human catastrophe that is unfolding before our eyes.
"That is why the United States has pushed so hard for a political solution, which is the only real solution to this conflict. A large portion of the assistance that I announced today, $51M will go directly to refugees in Lebanon and the communities that host them there."
As of March, the United States had donated more than $1.7 billion in humanitarian aid over the last three years to respond to the Syrian crisis, with slightly more than half directed to programs operating inside of Syria.
After the press conference, Kerry met with U.N. Special Representative for Lebanon Derek Plumbly.
Kerry arrived earlier in the afternoon in a private jet at Rafik Hariri International Airport, where he was received by U.S. Ambassador David Hale. The secretary then headed to the Grand Serail, where he met with Prime Minister Tammam Salam. Hale, U.S. State Department Deputy Chief of Staff Jonathan Finer and Vice Admiral Kurt Tidd also attended Kerry's meeting with Salam.
Kerry also held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri and Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai during his almost 4-hour visit to Lebanon.
Following talks with Berri, Kerry told reporters that "the meeting was very good" but he did not elaborate.
Kerry has visited the country in the past as the head of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but Wednesday is the first time Lebanon has seen America's top diplomat since Hillary Clinton's visit in 2009.
Source/Fuente: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Jun-04/258847-secreta...
