Biden”s Beirut Visit Focused on Lebanese Stability And Regional Settlement
The recent visit to Lebanon by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden continued to draw hot debate among March 14 and March 8 forces. However, informed sources told the Arab pan-daily al-Hayat that Biden”s visit sought to guarantee continued stability in Lebanon and exceptional support to President Michel Suleiman”s role in the country while the U.S. administration works in parallel in finding regional solutions.
A March 14 figure told al-Hayat that the parliamentary majority”s meeting with Biden did not address the June 7 elections.
"However, we [March 14 Forces] understood from him that Washington is to going to follow new practical steps in support of Lebanon and the armed forces," source said.
He added that the majority of the time spent with the U.S. vice-president was used to address continued Israeli violations of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, the recently uncovered Israeli espionage rings and the national dialogue process concerning [Hizbullah”s] arms, U.S. support to the Lebanese army and relations with Syria.
An official source told al-Hayat: "the exceptional U.S. support to president Suleiman stems from a keen American interest in sustaining the president”s role as a safety valve in maintaining Lebanese stability as the administration is currently working on finding a regional settlement."
The source added that Biden focused during his meeting with Lebanese officials on guaranteeing sustained stability in Lebanon, in via supporting the role of the Lebanese army and the president, which would create a state of equilibrium following the legislative elections.
"The Lebanese elections are drawing Arab and international interest hence, there are much exaggerated analyses regarding the Biden visit. I expect a similar situation once Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visits on Monday," a government sources told the dialy An-Nahar on Sunday.