Clinton in Beirut Relays Message to Suleiman, Reassures Lebanon over Syria
Visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday relayed a message of support from the U.S. president to Lebanese counterpart and pledged that the current U.S.-Syrian rapprochement will not come at the expense of Lebanon.
Clinton also visited the tomb of slain ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and was met at the site by his son MP Saad Hariri.
"There is nothing that we would do in any way that would undermine Lebanon”s sovereignty," Clinton told a press conference in Baabda after meeting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.
"So I want to reassure any Lebanese citizen that the United States will never make any deal with Syria that sells out Lebanon or the Lebanese people."
Her comments came during an unannounced visit to Lebanon just six weeks before key parliamentary elections.
She said the purpose of her trip was to "deliver a message of support for an independent and sovereign Lebanon" to Suleiman from President Barack Obama.
The top U.S. diplomat reiterated Washington”s backing of the Lebanese Army saying U.N. resolutions clearly state the military as the "sole establishment that must have weapons control."
She said the United States will continue to "protect the Lebanese borders and (help Lebanon) combat violence."
The United States has provided $1 billion in aid since 2006, including $410 million in security assistance to the military and the police.
In a statement to reporters traveling with her, Clinton stressed that Washington was hopeful that the June 7 parliamentary vote would proceed in democratic fashion, free of outside interference.
"The people of Lebanon must be able to choose their own representatives in open and fair elections, without the specter of violence or intimidation, and free of outside influence," she said.
"We join the international community in supporting the Lebanese government”s efforts to achieve that goal," she added.
"Beyond the election, we will continue to support the voices of moderation in Lebanon, and the responsible institutions of the Lebanese state they are working hard to build," said Clinton, who on Saturday was in Baghdad.
She expressed support of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Support, stressing the need for "an absolute end to an era of political assassinations."
On Thursday, Clinton voiced concerns over "a possible Hizbullah victory in the June legislative polls" and underlined the need for efforts to "boost the command of the current government."
In a testimony to the House appropriations committee, Clinton said recent arrests in Egypt of an alleged Hizbullah cell "served as a wake up" for the Egyptian authorities.
They are now aware of "the increasing alliance between Hizbullah and Hamas and their connection to organizations inside Egypt seeking to destabilize the government," she added.
The United States serves best its own interests by "supporting and funding" the Lebanese government, in which Hizbullah is a member in order to "prevent more infiltrations by fundamentalism," Clinton told the House committee.
Hizbullah was skeptical Sunday about Clinton”s visit and spokesman Ibrahim Moussawi said it could even have a negative impact on the pro-U.S. factions in the country.
Speaking on the group”s Al-Manar TV after Clinton arrived, Moussawi said it was too early to tell whether the Obama administration has reassessed its policy, but he added that American "interference in the past was never positive."
He also criticized what he termed a "double standard and deception" when the U.S. calls for Islamic factions to participate in elections then refuses to accept the results if they win.
In Baabda, Clinton refused to "speculate" on the outcome of the elections, saying only she was in Lebanon as a sign of support. "The Lebanese people will choose their representatives. But we hope the polls will be held without intimidation and external interference."
"We look forward to cooperating with the upcoming government," she added.
Under the administration of George W. Bush, Washington led a boycott of Damascus and Tehran. But under President Barack Obama, that boycott has eased.
Clinton said Saturday that she had sent two diplomats to Syria and was "heartened" by improved relations between that country and Lebanon.
"I sent two of our diplomats to Syria about six weeks ago. We”ve had members of Congress going to Syria," Clinton told al Hurra television. "We are heartened by the exchange of ambassadors between Lebanon and Syria."
But she said no decision had been made about naming a new ambassador to Damascus.
"We hope that Syria will play a constructive role in supporting democracy in Lebanon, but we haven”t made any further decisions," the secretary noted.