Clinton , who was accompanied by Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs Jeffrey Feltman and U.S. Ambassador Michele Sison delivered a message from United states president Barack Obama to Suleiman assuring the Lebanese of US continued support for a sovereign and free Lebanon and to stress the special ties between the US and Lebanon.
In a press conference following her meeting with Suleiman Clinton pledged that the current U.S.-Syrian rapprochement will not come at the expense of Lebanon. "There is nothing that we would do in any way that would undermine Lebanon's sovereignty," Clinton said She added : "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."
She said the purpose of her trip was to "deliver a message of support for an independent and sovereign Lebanon" to Suleiman from Obama
In reference to June 7 parliamentary elections she said: "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,"
"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," Clinton said
Clinton expressed US support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and stressed the need for "an absolute end to an era of political assassinations."
Following the press conference she visited the tomb of former prime minister Rafik Hariri and was met at the site by his son MP Saad Hariri. She signed the visitors book at Hariri's tomb and wrote: "Those who killed Rafik al-Hariri did not kill his dream of an independent, free and prosperous Lebanon and will never be able to do so. His life and legacy will continue to inspire people everywhere. May God bless his memory, his family and his beloved country."
As expected, the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah group was not overjoyed with Clinton's visit. Its spokesman Ibrahim Moussawi speculated that Clinton's visit could even have a negative impact on the pro-U.S. factions in the country. He told Hezbollah's mouthpiece Al Manar TV " It was too early to tell whether the Obama administration has reassessed its policy, but American interference in the past was never positive."
US secretary of State Hillary Clinton with president Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace
US secretary of State Hillary Clinton accompanied by a delegation met Lebanese president Michel Suleiman in the presence of Lebanese Foreign minister fawzi salloukh and other key Lebanese officials
US secretary of State Hillary Clinton signing the visitors book at Hariri's tomb in downtown Beirut : She wrote: "Those who killed Rafik al-Hariri did not kill his dream of an independent, free and prosperous Lebanon and will never be able to do so. His life and legacy will continue to inspire people everywhere. May God bless his memory, his family and his beloved country."
US secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Parliament majority leader MP Saad Hariri
Tags: Clinton, Hezbollah, Lebanese, Lebanon, Obama, Suleiman, Syria, Ya Libnan
