Obama Reiterates to Suleiman Rejection of Hizbullah Intervention in Syria, Voices Support for Christians
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.
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