U.S. Envoy Meets Qahwaji, Stresses Lebanon’s Need to Meet International Commitments

Visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Jake Walles, held talks on Wednesday with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, announced the U.S. Embassy in a statement.

The U.S. official had held talks on Tuesday with a number of Lebanese officials to discuss the political, security, and economic situation in Lebanon, as well as the current situation in Syria, it added.

This is Walles’ second visit to Lebanon as deputy assistant secretary, it stated.

He had met with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, and former Minister of Finance Mohammed Chatah.

“Walles had underscored during his meetings the need for Lebanon to meet all of its international obligations, including cooperating with and funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” said the statement.

“He also reiterated the U.S. view that it is important to ensure that the current instability in Syria does not create tension in Lebanon,” it continued.

He renewed the commitment of the United States to a stable, sovereign, and independent Lebanon, noted the embassy statement.