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U.S. Senator Bill Nelson Visits Lebanon (Dec 15, 2006)

EMBASSY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson Visits Lebanon

December 15, 2006

nelson“The United States will not abandon Lebanon,” U.S. Senator Bill Nelson said repeatedly to the Lebanese he met during his six-hour stop in Beirut, December 14, 2006. The senior Senator from Florida met with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Minister of Defense Elias Murr and Member of Parliament Saadeddine Hariri.

Senator Nelson, a Democrat, serves on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, and is the newest member of the Senate Committee on Intelligence. Senator Nelson spoke to the press after meeting with Prime Minister Siniora. He said his visit aimed “to express the strong support of the United States… for the Siniora Government.” Senator Nelson said, “We stand behind an elected democracy. This government represents the majority and we do not want to see it undermined by outside forces.”

“I have just come to Beirut from Damascus where I met with President Assad. I made it very clear to him that the Government of United States and this senator supports the Siniora Government. And I made it very clear to President Assad that he should stop meddling in the affairs of Lebanon and stop trying to control Lebanon… I [came] today to tell Prime Minister Siniora exactly what I told President Assad.”
“The Prime Minister is a good man and is very courageous and it is obvious in these times of turmoil how he is standing strong and courageous. The United States is not going to abandon Lebanon to gain Syria’s cooperation in Iraq…We support the Prime Minister’s efforts to establish a tribunal for a horrific crime of assassination. It is very important that the United Nations follow through with this investigation, wherever that investigation leads, and find the perpetrators and bring them to justice...”