US embassy says Shea still serving as ambassador to Lebanon

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Friday announced that U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea is still serving as her country's ambassador to Lebanon, following media reports related to her nomination by the White House for the post of U.S. Deputy Representative to the U.N.

"Embassy Beirut is proud of (U.S.) President (Joe) Biden’s nomination of Ambassador Shea to serve as the U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations," U.S. Embassy Beirut Spokesperson Julia Groeblacher said in a statement.

"But, this is only the first step of a multi-step process for a position that requires the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. In the meantime, Ambassador Shea is still here in Beirut serving as the United States Ambassador to Lebanon," Groeblacher said.

She added that the Ambassador looks forward to "continuing her role in our partnership with the Lebanese people, as we work to help rescue the Lebanese economy and promote solutions to overcome political paralysis, so the people can once again have an elected president and empowered government, ideally committed to reforms, transparency, and good governance."

"As the Ambassador always says, we are in this together," the Spokesperson went on to say.

The White House had on Tuesday nominated Shea for the posts of U.S. Deputy Representative to the U.N. and U.S. Representative to the Sessions of the U.N. General Assembly, sending the nominations to the U.S. Senate for approval.

According to Lebanon’s MTV, a successor to Shea as U.S. ambassador to Lebanon is yet to be appointed.

“She will stay in Beirut for a maximum period of three months,” the TV network said on Wednesday.