US State Department: The US-French partnership over Lebanon is strong
Ann Somerset, a spokeswoman for the US State Department’s Near East Office, told Lebanese daily Al-Hayat that the US-French partnership over Lebanon remains strong.
“French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s openness to his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, will not influence the French and American objective to ensure Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence and to move forward with the Special Tribunal,” Somerset said.
She noted that the US has many problems with Syria, mainly regarding Damascus’ position vis-à-vis UN Security Council resolutions, normalizing relations with Lebanon and redrawing the two countries’ mutual border.
“We want the Syrians to follow through with their commitments,” Somerset said, adding that redrawing the border between Lebanon and Syria is the first step toward reaching a solution to the Shebaa Farms dispute.
She added that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is waiting for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to suggest possible solutions to the Shebaa Farms problem.
Somerset also stressed on the need to start direct Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, which she added is not a prerequisite to resolving the Shebaa Farms issue.
She also denied a standstill around the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and noted that Canadian Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare, head of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission, is carrying out procedures ahead of the conviction phase.
“The tribunal is under UN supervision, and it enjoys immense international support. Its budget for the coming two or three years has been ensured,” Somerset added.