Ambassador
Shea: “We discussed the urgent need to form a government committed to reforms
and able to implement. The United States is committed to standing with and
supporting the Lebanese people”.
Ambassador
Shea: “Is it not the time yet to give up on conditions for forming a government
and start a settlement?”.
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met United States
Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea, today at Baabda Palace, and discussed with
her Lebanese-US relations and governmental developments.
The meeting was also attended by former Minister, Salim Jreisatti.
Statement of Ambassador Shea:
After the meeting, the US Ambassador made the following statement:
“Sabah El-Kheir.
I would like to begin by thanking his Excellency President Aoun for
receiving me here this morning at Baabda Palace. Today, during
our meeting, we discussed the importance of –and indeed the urgency of—forming
a government that is committed to and able to implement reforms. The United
States has continuously reiterated its commitment to stand by and support the
people of Lebanon.
Right now, there is a need for courageous leaders, who are ready to
put aside their partisan differences and work together to rescue the country
from the multiple crises and self-inflected wounds it is facing.
I am confident that you can do this.
Just last night I spoke with a number of young political activists
from across the spectrum and it was clear that they want a government that
takes responsibility for their country. They want
judicial independence.
They want the rule of law. They want to
root out endemic corruption that robs the country and its people of precious
resources it so desperately needs. And, they also
said they wanted to see the elections that are scheduled next year to
take place on time.
But let’s focus on the here and now. I know your
government, your leaders are trying to form a government. And I would
just say, respectfully, for anyone who has been placing demands on forming this
government that your people so desperately need, and if those demands have
resulted in blocking that government formation, I would ask: now that we are
almost eight months without a fully-empowered government, isn’t now the time to
let go of those demands?
To begin compromising?
It’s important to focus on building a government, not blocking a
government.
Thank you”.