Hariri Continues Washington Visit, Meets Rice
Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri continued his visit to Washington on Friday and met with U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice, and the Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Wormuth.
According to a statement issued by Hariri's press office his meeting with Rice focused on the situation in Lebanon and the latest developments in the region, particularly in the Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
The U.S. official vowed that her country will provide further assistance to the Lebanese army as the U.S. is committed to support Lebanon's sovereignty and stability.
Lebanon's allies are seeking to bolster the country's defenses against the Islamic State group and other jihadists pressing along its Syrian border.
The meeting was held in presence of Hariri's chief of staff Nader Hariri, adviser for American Affairs Amal Mudallali, National Security Council Senior Director for the Levant, Israel, and Egypt Yael Lempert and the director of the Office of Lebanon Kathleen Costello.
Later, the ex-PM met with Wormuth at the Pentagon.
Talks tackled the situation in the region and the possible means to boost support for the Lebanese Armed Forces to enable them to combat terrorism.
The Lebanese army is generally seen as a unifying force in Lebanon, and draws its ranks from all of the country's sects.
Hariri also met with representatives of the Arab press accredited in Washington.
The Mustaqbal chief kicked off on Wednesday a visit to Washington in an attempt to safeguard Lebanon from the repercussions of the turmoil in the region.
He has so far met with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and several other senior officials.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/176754 |