US wants closer military cooperation with Lebanon: Edelman
A senior US defence official said on Saturday that his government wants to strengthen military cooperation with Lebanon.
Visiting US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Eric Edelman "stressed the United States” commitment to enhancing the LAF”s (Lebanese armed forces) capabilities," the US embassy said.
"The United States will continue to support the government of Lebanon and the LAF as they continued to safeguard the peace, unity and sovereignty of Lebanon," a statement added.
Edelman had met earlier with newly elected President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister-designate Fuad Siniora, caretaker Defence Minister Elias Murr, acting army chief Major Geneal Shawki al-Masri and parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri.
The statement said they continued discussions of plans to strengthen the bilateral defence relationship.
Since 2006, Washington has committed more than 371 million dollars in security assistance to Lebanon.
Edelman”s visit comes as Siniora works to form a government of national unity and bring an end to 18 months of political feuding that burst into deadly violence earlier in May and took the country to the brink of a new civil war.
After mediation by Qatar, the opposing sides agreed to put their weapons aside and work toward national unity.
Asked whether Washington would continue its support for the government if politicians from the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hezbollah were included, Edelman said only that future ministers "will represent the Lebanese people."