2006 Speeches

Statement by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey D. Feltman After Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Fawzi Salloukh

July 31, 2006

Media Notice
For Immediate Release

My call on His Excellency Foreign Minister Salloukh today has two purposes: First, as U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, I expressed to Foreign Minister Salloukh the condolences of the United States to the people of Lebanon for the tragic deaths of Lebanese civilians in this conflict and especially our shock and horror over what took place in Qana yesterday. I noted that Secretary Rice had also expressed condolences when she spoke yesterday and today with Prime Minister Siniora and last evening with Speaker Berri.

But I also came to see the Foreign Minister in a personal capacity. Foreign Minister Salloukh, like so many Lebanese, is a friend. In the United States, as in Lebanon, friends offer support in times of sorrow and grief. Today, Lebanon mourns. I wanted the Foreign Minister to know that I, too, grieve for Lebanon's losses. I feel and understand the pain and the anger of the Lebanese people today. I gave the Foreign Minister my personal commitment that I would do everything possible both as U.S. Ambassador and as a friend of Lebanon and the Lebanese people, to end, as quickly as possible, this violence.

I also told His Excellency how much Secretary Rice regretted not seeing him yesterday as hoped. I briefed him on her ongoing efforts both to bring about the much-needed cease-fire as urgently as possible and, simultaneously, to address the most critical humanitarian issues, including fuel deliveries. We all have much work to do, and I assured the Foreign Minister that the U.S. Government is fully and urgently engaged in ending this crisis.