iloubnan - Ambassador Connelly Meets Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri - June 01, 2011

Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. The Ambassador discussed with Speaker Berri the ongoing political developments in Lebanon, including the need for Lebanese government institutions to work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other international organizations to fulfill Lebanon's obligations under international law to provide protection to Syrian citizens fleeing the violence in Syria.

Ambassador Connelly also reiterated the U.S.’s view that the international community will assess its relationship with any new government of Lebanon based on the make-up of the next cabinet, its ministerial statement and the actions it takes in regard to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and Lebanon’s other international obligations. 
The Ambassador reconfirmed that the United States considers the make-up of Lebanon’s government to be strictly a Lebanese decision and called on all parties in Lebanon to protect the government formation process from any external interference.