Obama Reiterates to Suleiman Rejection of Hizbullah Intervention in Syria, Voices Support for Christians
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday told U.S. President Barack Obama that “the international community and the United States must offer support in order to secure the success of the meeting of the international support group for Lebanon and to help the country cope with the burden of the Syrian refugee influx," state-run National News Agency reported.
According to NNA, Obama voiced support for Lebanon's sovereignty and independence, lauding Suleiman's “efforts” and reiterating Washington's “rejection of Hizbullah's intervention in Syria.”
The U.S. leader noted that Hizbullah must disarm and “stressed his support for Christians in Lebanon given the fact that the developments in the region are affecting their presence,” according to LBCI television.
Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) said Obama also expressed his support for the Lebanese army.
“Obama lauded Suleiman's stances, describing them as excellent, not only for Lebanon but also for the entire international community,” MTV reported.
The two presidents met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, where Suleiman is expected to deliver a speech on Tuesday night.
Separately, LBCI said following his return from New York on Friday, Suleiman will head to Riyadh at an official invitation for talks with top Saudi officials.
“The outcome of Suleiman's visit to Saudi Arabia might lead to a breakthrough in the cabinet formation process,” LBCI quoted sources as saying.
Suleiman met on Monday with Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council. NNA said their discussions focused on the EU's assistance to Lebanon in addition to the growing number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
The president also met with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi.
He attended on Monday night a reception held by Obama in honor of the heads of delegations and their spouses at the Waldorf Astoria.
On Wednesday, Suleiman along with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon will head a meeting of an international support group for Lebanon, which is burdened by the flow of refugees from Syria.
The meeting, which will include the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, will examine ways to help Lebanon maintain political stability and security, and confront the continuous flow of Syrian refugees.
The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR has registered more than 746,000 Syrians in Lebanon, though many others remain unregistered.
The Lebanese government puts the number of Syrians in the country at 1.3 million, though that figure includes Syrians who were already in the country when the conflict began 30 months ago.
24 September 2013, 20:59
134
Better than heading to Iran at Saudi is an Arab nation like us. Are you really an Arab or an Iranian in Arab camouflage?
24 September 2013, 21:15
134
the_roar and southern,
Government formation is obstructed by the HA arms supplied by Iran. The arms are the reason HA can dictate whatever they want regardless of its constitutionality or lack-there-of. So the Iranian orders are given to HA and whether the presient goes there or not it makes no difference.
24 September 2013, 21:41
49
If you talking about Arabs: its only the Ghassan and Munzer tribe of big Syria. The Saudi has nothing to do with Arans as genes. However that is another story for another day. Saudi sold Arab interest to foreigners since 225 years ago. And they should be criminalized and abolished. The culture that does not refuse its backwarded elements and progress is doomed to fail. The only reason Saud family still exist because it had sold the hearts and minds of Arabs to foreigners. Wake up! And ask your naharnet masterd to delete my post. Its shame in Sunni- regimes-terrorists institute breath and eat by Saudi Cannibels to accept my progressive post
24 September 2013, 21:44
103
No m14 can go to saudi without silly little boys saying this guy is going to get some orders. It this guy is going to get a paycheck. And no m8 can go to Iran without the same being said. If we want to admit it or not. Those are the regional power houses. And both have sway over both sides of our spectrum. The problem is not only saudi like you try to portray. Or only Iran. The problem is we can't even agree with one another on the first color of the rainbow let alone the formation of the cabinet. M8 works for Iran. M14 works for saudi. And the fools work for Lebanon.
24 September 2013, 21:54
411
"Saudi is an Arab nation like us"? You are free to speak for yourself, my friend, but please do not include me in you definition of Arab. Calling me Arab is an insult to myself and to my ancestors who have resisted "Arabization" for over a thousand years, and paid a huge price for defending their identity, beliefs and culture.
And oh, my ancestors, like myself, are called the Maronites and their home is Lebanon.
24 September 2013, 21:34
21
He shouldn't mention support for christians we don't need for time being ,by mentioning he is taking part ,we can protect ourself against terrorism and if happens a need for a help they will worldwide.
24 September 2013, 21:34
20
He shouldn't mention support for christians we don't need for time being ,by mentioning he is taking part ,we can protect ourself against terrorism and if happens a need for a help they will worldwide.
24 September 2013, 22:54
75
Hey Southern. It is 11:00 PM. Time to turn on the fake accounts and vote yourself into yet another "top rated" grand chelem.
24 September 2013, 22:59
43
bigjohn, most lebanese orthodox are originally from jabal Houran, from the ghassassina tribe, who itself is a tribe that came from Yemen.
25 September 2013, 08:11
31
That is true LF. I am a room orthodox and have traced my history back to Yemen and the Ghassasinas as well.
Most made their way to Syria before slowly infiltrating Lebanon.
24 September 2013, 23:51
14
Bigjohn I understand your argument and a lot of is fact, of course, but it is incomplete and does not reflect a comprehensive knowledge of the history of the Maronites, from its early days in Antioch until the present day. There is neither space nor time here to debate this issue.
The fact that we adopted Arabic as a language does not make us Arab. Nigerians speak English as their first language; it does not make them English.
25 September 2013, 02:00
11
Obama is with Hariri al-Qaeda Enterprise's involvement in Syria for the cause of democracy, freedom and human rights there, not to mention the humanitarian aid with milk and tafjiri-wrapped blankets. takbir
25 September 2013, 05:45
03
You say, again "we". YOU are probably Arab, and more power to you! But you know very little about the Maronites and I suggest you read up a little. You, my friend is one of many millions before you who tried to impose a fake identity on us. People like you have been trying to do this for over a 1000 years, with limited success. It won't work. You're an Arab and I'm a Maronite. Live with it!
25 September 2013, 07:33
41
@haile.selassie
That argument at face value might appear true and convincing were it not for the fact that Iran has a dictator in the form of the wali al-faqeeh. A democracy Iran is not my friend and you know it.
25 September 2013, 07:36
31
Moreover, why do you feel the need to put people down be them the Saudis or our President? What makes you think you more superior to either especially with an avatar of a dictator. Show some humility please.
25 September 2013, 07:43
21
Wow! Never expected to get so many reactions and comments to my simple two liner comment above. At least most were civilized.
Like it or not, the whole world sees us Lebanese as Arabs protestation to the contrary notwithstanding. Instead of denying what we are why not work on improving ourselves as Arabs so as to erase the negative connotations the world has about Arabs.
Lebanon is such a fractured society as the comments amply demonstrate. Our only hope is to stop bothering with the small stuff and concentrate on building our country as one people. For those who choose to believe that the Arabs of Saudi Arabia are beneath us, help elevate them instead of putting them down.
25 September 2013, 07:48
30
Our economy depends on our neighboring Arab states especially the Gulf States. If Iranian tourists choose to come to Lebanon they too are welcome. We need to put our loyalty for Lebanon above all.
Our President is trying to do just that and all he gets are derogatory remarks from the likes of some if the commentators above whose loyalty to Lebanon is suspect at best compared to our President's loyalty to his beloved Lebanon.
25 September 2013, 08:31
32
Hallie. Why this attack on jabal? A lot of Lebanese dont feel arab. I am not maronite, but have a great respect for their religion.
On another subject: You are arrogant. You are rude. You think you know it all. Try practicing some humility, it will do you good, whatever suburb of Sydney you live in.
25 September 2013, 09:15
04
LF, that's always been the problem with a lot of Arabs: they can't deal with diversity in the ME. I really don't see why Halle.selassie had a nervous meltdown over the issue: He is Arab and I'm not, but we are both Lebanese!
25 September 2013, 09:51
42
With attitude like yours @haile.selassie, us Arabs will remain looked down at.
Learn o appreciate diversity and accept other people's opinion even if you do not agree with them. Nothing @jabal10452 said warrants such response. Him and I differ in how we see ourselves but we both are civil to each other. Freedom means he gets to believe in what he believes and me in my beliefs. Is that so hard for people like you to comprehend? And you wonder why we feel the way we do about HA and it's supporters? Arrogance is not a becoming trait.
25 September 2013, 13:28
03
haile.selassie, you're confusing being Arab with being Lebanese.
You can be one without the other.
25 September 2013, 20:12
00
Bigohn, I want to stress that I have absolutely nothing against Arabs and their culture, and that I refuse to consider myself superior to anybody! How I feel about Arab governments is quite a separate matter. I simply object to anyone trying to shove their identity down my throat in order to satisfy their urge for conformity. Lebanon is diverse and we should capitalize on our diversity. There should be room for everybody in this country. There is a reason why our founding fathers specifically agreed NOT to call the country "The Arab Lebanese Republic" and settled for "The Lebanese Republic".
05 October 2013, 05:53
00
Lebanon has been officially arab since the Taif Agreement. The maronites lost the civil war, it's over. Even non-arab neighbors like Turkey, Israel and Iran regard Lebanon as 'another arab state' at this point.
