Suleiman Meets Obama to Press U.S. to Deliver Promised Military Aid
President Michel Suleiman will meet U.S. President Barack Obama and his deputy Joe Biden in Washington on Monday where he is expected to urge speeding up of arms delivery for Lebanon.
Suleiman, who arrived in Washington on Saturday, will also emphasize on the Palestinian right of return and condemn naturalization, according to State Minister Adnan Sayyed Hussein.
Hussein said Suleiman will also inform U.S. officials that U.N. Security Council Res. 1559 is an internal Lebanese issue to be discussed at the national dialogue table and that it should not be dealt with internationally.
In remarks published Monday by daily As-Safir, Hussein said all "misunderstood points" or "misunderstandings" that erupted prior to Suleiman”s U.S. trip had been contained, pointing to the phone call that took place between Suleiman and Syrian President Bashar Assad on Friday.
He said the telephone conversation showed that there is no justification to all attempts to question the relationship between the two Presidents, who were in agreement over "strategic approach" on issues.
The U.S. has long provided military assistance to Lebanon — including $410 million to the military and the police. But Washington has not handed over any sophisticated arms for fear they could end up in Hizbullah hands.
The military assistance over the past years included aircraft, tanks, artillery, small boats, infantry weapons, ammunition, Humvees and cargo trucks, according to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
The embassy says the U.S. will provide the Lebanese army with 12 Raven unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft in the coming months.
Hizbullah”s military power has drawn concern within Lebanon and in Israel.
Hizbullah says it must keep its weapons to fight off any future Israeli aggression.