2006 press releases
Statement by Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman After Meeting With His Excellency, Patriarch Sfeir in Bkirki
September 14, 2006I paid a call on His Eminence today to brief him on U.S. support for Lebanon. I told him that President Bush's announcement of a package of assistance of more than $230 million for Lebanon includes three main components -- assistance for reconstruction (at nearly $60 million), emergency and humanitarian relief (just over $100 million, with well over $50 million already disbursed), and assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and other security services (about $75 million).
On behalf of my government, I also expressed confidence in the leadership exercised by Prime Minister Siniora and his cabinet in leading Lebanon out of the recent, tragic conflict and in moving decisively toward reconstruction and development. I noted that, with the historic and unanimous cabinet decision to deploy the Lebanese army to the south, the LAF has assumed new and important responsibilities. Lebanon's international friends, including the United States, will fulfill our own responsibilities in providing support to the army, to the government more broadly, and to the Lebanese people.
I also expressed confidence that the Lebanese people would be able to turn the tragic events of the last two months into an opportunity to consolidate and strengthen Lebanon's democratic traditions, through peaceful dialogue and using Lebanon's constitutional institutions. I praised His Eminence for his leadership and the leadership of the Council of the Maronite Bishops for the constructive role they have played recently in reinforcing these important messages. In our view, His Eminence Patriarch Sfeir's emphasis on the need for equality among Lebanon's citizens is an important message as well as another example of his wisdom.