U.S. Defense Official in Beirut as Hale Stresses No Change in U.S. Policy
A top official from the U.S. Defense Department has arrived in Beirut and joined Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Hale who is meeting with Lebanese officials.
Mary Beth Long, who is assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, arrived Sunday afternoon aboard a military helicopter from Larnaca.
She went into talks with Hale ahead of planned meetings with top Lebanese officials starting Monday.
Hale met on Sunday with Druze leader Walid Jumblat, MP Boutros Harb and Former legislator Elie Firizli.
An Nahar daily said Monday that Long was among the U.S. delegation headed by Hale during his last visit to Beirut a month ago.
The newspaper said that the current U.S. delegation”s mission is to provide the Lebanese army with military aid and help improve its communications system.
Though Hale has refused to make statements to the media, Harb quoted him as saying that the U.S. administration will not change its policies towards the region whoever the next president is.
Hale, according to Harb, also stressed U.S. support to Lebanon”s sovereignty and rejected the return of any country to Lebanon and any interference in its internal affairs.
Firizli also quoted Hale as saying that the Lebanese army should be helped so that it becomes ready to confront all challenges.