2005 press releases

Transcript: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs C. David Welch

Press availability following meeting with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants

October 12, 2005

Sabah al kheer. Ramadan Kareem.

Mr. Minister, thank you very much for welcoming me this morning.

Ladies and gentlemen, I was pleased to have this opportunity to meet with His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Salloukh in Beirut today. I had the honor of meeting him in New York, during the Lebanese delegation’s visit there, and where we began our exchanges on matters of interest to our two countries. This morning, we discussed a number of things, including our bilateral relationship and developments in the region. As you know, I work on a number of issues, including the Arab Israeli issue. We also had the opportunity to discuss follow up to the Core Group meetings in New York and the effort of the international community, led by the United States, to support Lebanon. I was grateful for the opportunity to hear His Excellency the Minister’s views on the latest developments on political, economic and institutional reform in Lebanon.

As this is my first meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in my capacity as Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, I would like to express on behalf of the United States and the American administration, our strongest support for Lebanon under the leadership of this new government. The Lebanese and American peoples have a deep and enduring friendship. We’ve been through difficult times together. Certainly our recent history has had its parts of pain and sadness us both. But, we looked to the future with confidence and strength. We are convinced that there is an enormous opportunity now before Lebanon to restore dignity and hope to all its people, to protect its sovereignty as it faces the future, and to launch new programs of political and economic reform that will make Lebanon, once again, one of the strongest countries in the Middle East and a beacon of hope for people throughout the area.

Mr. Minister, thank you so much for hosting me this morning. It’s good to see you again. Thank you all very much.