US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Lebanon on Monday to bolster the troubled country's new president, as rival political leaders still struggle to form a new government.
Rice said she made the trip to “express the United States’ support for Lebanese democracy, for Lebanese sovereignty.”
We support the democratically elected government of Lebanon, that is what we support,” Rice said, brushing aside any suggestion of US interference in Lebanese politics.
Rice declared Washington's support for a demarcation of Lebanon's borders with Syria and the establishing of diplomatic ties between the two neighboring states. Lebanon and Syria are two neighboring states and their relations should be between two peoples, Rice noted.
The US Secretary of State also met with Speaker Berri, General Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Siniora, and with important March 14 leaders, such as Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt, Amine Gemayel and Samir Geagea.
For President Suleiman this was an important meeting. It was expected, and most likely he expected, to step into the action right after the election. I’d dare say, that he almost missed the start, because there is still no government formed, in spite of the ongoing negotiations. The fact that the Secretary of State met with Speaker Berri and General Aoun was meant as a push for everyone to reach an acceptable agreement, and start doing their jobs. Enough feet dragging!
“The United States believes that the time has come to deal with the Shebaa Farms issue… in accordance with (UN Security Council Resolution) 1701,” Rice said after discussing the matter with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
As soon as the problem of the Shebaa farms gets solved, Hizballah will be left without its primary excuse for keeping the weapons. If the land is liberated, what else can they liberate next? If Hizballah were to use all of its resources in the socio-political and economical arena, I’m pretty sure they’d be dominant. With their experience, business sense, discipline and principles, they’d do great.
