PRESS RELEASES
Statement of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey D. Feltman after
meeting Prime Minister Rafic Hariri
Beirut October 20, 2004
07:00 P.M.
20 October 2004
Prime Minister Hariri confirmed to me that he has submitted his
resignation to the President. I understand that this resignation
triggers a round of consultations. Let me explain a bit about what
the United States and its international partners would like to see
emerge from what we very much hope is a Lebanese process of consultations.
Our hopes for Lebanon are, of course, directly related to UNSCR
1559 and to the Presidential Statement that the Security Council
issued yesterday.
We and our international partners want to see a prosperous Lebanon
that is moving ahead economically, politically and socially. We
want to see a Lebanon that provides a promising future for its young
people, with a democratic government that the Lebanese people can
be proud of. We hope to see a Lebanon that has positive and constructive
diplomatic relations with its neighbors, but relations based on
principles of mutual respect and non-intervention in the domestic
affairs of others. We want to see a growing Lebanese economy, benefiting
all of the Lebanese people and rooted in reforms, rule of law, and
transparency.
Thus the Lebanese Government that emerges from this consultative
process should be composed of strong individuals who have credibility
and integrity, who are willing to exercise freedom of action, and
who share a positive vision about Lebanon's future. The new government
should be able to take decisions free of foreign interference. The
United States and its international partners want to see a Lebanese
Government that can address the needs of Lebanon, and a government
that is truly representative of the will of the Lebanese people.
The new Lebanese Government should be built on, and strengthen,
Lebanon's vibrant democratic traditions.
That is what UNSCR 1559 is about - it's about building the future
for Lebanon that Lebanon's people so deserve and want. We hope that
the current government consultations will result in the type of
credible, democratic, visionary Lebanese government that can move
Lebanon forward. I assure you that a government that can move Lebanon
in that direction, according to the needs and will of the Lebanese
people, will have the full support of the United States and its
international partners. Thank you.
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