U.S. Embassy Official: Lebanon Didn”t Officially Inform the U.S. that 1559 is “Dead”
The United States wasn”t officially informed by Lebanese authorities that U.N. Security Council resolution 1559 is "dead," a U.S. embassy official said, adding that "support for all relevant resolutions was underscored" during the Lebanese president”s visit to Washington last week.
"Support for all relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions was underscored" during U.S. President Barack Obama”s meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman, the diplomat told a media roundtable on Suleiman”s visit to the U.S.
When asked by Naharnet if Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami has informed foreign missions, including the U.S. embassy, that 1559 no longer exists, the official said: "We haven”t received" a note verbale on the matter.
Media reports had said that al-Shami informed foreign ambassadors in Beirut that 1559 is "dead and has become obsolete."
The official reiterated that support for the Lebanese Armed Forces continues and is designed to enhance LAF capabilities and Lebanon”s sovereignty.
"There is ongoing dialogue between the U.S. military and LAF" so that the Lebanese army could secure the country”s territories, the diplomat added.
The official stressed that U.S. assistance for Lebanese Armed Forces since 2006 has reached $484 million.
Asked about reports that the Obama administration has linked "heavy weaponry" aid to the Lebanese army with the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, the official said that the U.S. president has emphasized his concern to Suleiman "about extensive arms smuggling" into Lebanon.
Obama told reporters following talks with Suleiman that the smuggling of weapons "potentially serve as a threat to Israel."
Arms smuggling "threatens not only Israel”s but also Lebanon”s security," the embassy official said. "The smuggling of arms is in contravention of U.N. Security Council resolutions."
"Bearing arms undermines Lebanon”s sovereignty" too, the diplomat added.
The official stressed that U.S. policy is aimed at supporting Lebanon”s sovereignty and independence in addition to backing state institutions by carrying out educational and judicial projects. The U.S. is also carrying out microfinance projects and funding waste water treatment plants.
There is a "robust" relationship between Lebanon and the U.S., the official said.
The diplomat said that Obama stressed to reporters following talks with Suleiman that assistance to Lebanon should not only be seen from a security lens.
"To the extent that we can help provide support around issues like education that promote opportunity within Lebanon, we want to do so," Obama said.
Asked if Washington would remove Hizbullah from the terror list if the Shiite party disarmed, the diplomat said: "The international community has made it very clear to disarm all non-state actors and non-state militias in Lebanon."
Removing Hizbullah from the list is a matter of U.S. law, the official noted.
When asked about Premier Saad Hariri”s visit to Damascus over the weekend, the official said the Lebanese PM told reporters that he wants to build a better future between the two countries.
Washington has always said that Lebanese-Syrian relations should "be mutually respectful and mutually beneficial," the diplomat added.
The official also called for resolving "outstanding issues" between the two countries such as border demarcation and the issue of Lebanese missing or jailed in Syria.
When asked what was blocking normalization of U.S. ties with Syria, the official said there has been engagement with Damascus through the visits of several U.S. officials to the country.
U.S. engagement in the region "will not come at Lebanon”s expense," the diplomat said.
About Lebanon”s status as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and if there would be U.S.-Lebanese cooperation on implementation of resolutions on Shabaa farms and Kfarshouba hills, the diplomat said: "We want to work with Lebanon on a full range of issues."
On the border village of Ghajar, the official said: "We certainly hope to see progress on Ghajar."
There was speculation that Israeli forces had a timetable for pulling out from the northern part of the village and the last stage would be in January 2010.
Asked about the international tribunal that would try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri”s suspected assassins, the diplomat said: "We remain fully committed to the STL."