2006 press releases

Statement by Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Danin After Meeting Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh Beirut, Lebanon

October 18, 2006

This is my first visit to Lebanon as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs. I’m very pleased that my first official meeting in Beirut has been with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh. I greatly appreciate the Minister’s willingness to meet with me today.

I shared with the Minister the aims of my visit. First, and foremost I am here to reiterate the strong commitment of the United States to Lebanon. I commended the Minister for the Government of Lebanon’s efforts to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and for the historic deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces to the south. I noted that these actions have resulted in an outpouring of support from the international community, reflected in the more than $900 million dollars pledged for Lebanon’s reconstruction in Stockholm.

During my visit, I will meet with Lebanese both inside and outside of government to better understand the challenges facing Lebanon and how the United States can best support Lebanese efforts to promote a stable, prosperous and democratic Lebanon. Finally, my visit will offer me the opportunity to review with our embassy staff the wide range of U.S.-funded activities aimed at addressing the humanitarian and reconstruction needs created by the recent hostilities.

I look forward to a fruitful and informative visit which I hope will serve to strengthen even further the strong ties between Lebanon and the United States.