US says it supports any inter-Lebanese dialogue on presidency

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has kicked off his official meetings on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where he met with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland in the presence of caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.

The meeting focused on Lebanese-American relations and the multiple issues currently facing Lebanon.

For his part, Mikati called on the international community to “support Lebanon in addressing the growing Syrian displacement crisis,” warning that it “poses a great threat to Lebanon and its social fabric.”

"The government has completed the reform projects required by the International Monetary Fund, and the file is now in the hands of parliament to decide what it deems appropriate,” Mikati added.

The U.S. official meanwhile called on the Lebanese political parties to expedite the election of a new president, stressing that Washington supports any inter-Lebanese dialogue in this regard.

Nuland also called on Lebanon to activate cooperation with international organizations, especially the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in a bid to address the new Syrian displacement file and all aspects of the displacement file.

The US official also stressed that Washington supports the Lebanese Army, reiterating the pressing need to complete economic and financial reforms.